Alfred Johansson's arrival at Motherwell this summer was always going to be a demanding assignment, yet the Swedish coach has begun life at Fir Park in impressive fashion, guiding the club to a third consecutive victory with Sunday's 2-1 win away at Hibernian.
The 35-year-old took charge after Motherwell finished fourth in the Scottish Premiership last term under Jens Berthel Askou, who departed for Toulouse having overseen an attractive style of football on a limited budget. Johansson's task was complicated further by the summer exits of several key figures, including Elijah Just, who joined Swansea City, Elliot Watt, who moved to Samsunspor, and Calum Ward, who signed for QPR.
Despite those departures, Motherwell have hit the ground running. Before Sunday's victory at Easter Road, they had already dispatched Faroese side HB Torshavn 5-0 on aggregate. The win over Hibernian showcased contrasting qualities from Johansson's side, who controlled periods of the first half before having to dig in defensively as the hosts pushed hard after the break. Summer signing Martin Moormann was central to that resistance, throwing his body on the line to make crucial blocks, while goalkeeper Alex Paulsen produced a string of important saves to keep Motherwell in contention. The visitors were ultimately rewarded when Ibrahim Said struck a fine goal on the counterattack to seal the points.
Reflecting on the performance, Johansson praised his players' resilience as much as their tactical execution. "It was a game of ups and downs for both teams and obviously I'm really pleased to come out with the three points," he said. "In the first half we showed some good stuff on the ball, but more than tactics, we have to praise the spirit of the team because at times we had to ride out storms. We have Martin Moormann throwing himself to make blocks, the front three dropping deep to help and Alex Paulsen making exceptional saves. When we hit it off, the good periods look really good, but we want those periods to be longer, but even months from now when we are better we will have to suffer and the guys showed they are ready to do that."
Notably, eight players made their Motherwell league debuts during the match, five of whom started the game. Johansson was quick to highlight the significance of that achievement. "To show that kind of commitment and team spirit this early, all the credit to the players. It shows we have got the right characters in the door," he said.
The club's recruitment strategy under the new manager appears to be paying early dividends. Moormann and fellow centre-back Jake Girdwood-Reich have both made strong impressions in defense, complementing established performers like Said and academy products such as Mikey Booth, who featured in both legs of the tie against HB Torshavn.
The positive atmosphere within the squad has been echoed by the players themselves. Forward Regan Charles-Cook, speaking ahead of the trip to Hibernian, described the unity within the group. "The group was so together, it still feels the same. It feels like a family," he said. Midfielder Oscar Priestman similarly praised the impact of the new coaching setup, telling Sky Sports: "The manager has brought in his own methods and stamped his authority on the team. We're all really enjoying it."
Motherwell's next test comes on a bigger stage as they travel to face HJK Helsinki in the third qualifying round of the Conference League on Thursday. Given their form so far, Johansson's side will head into that fixture with confidence, having navigated every challenge thrown at them since the start of the season.
Based on reporting from BBC Sport.