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Daily Record
Sport
Ben Banks

Rangers Europa League celebrations inspire Motherwell boss as he makes 'jealous' statement with Steelmen eyeing European spots

Motherwell manager Graham Alexander believes Rangers' progress to the Europa League final shows his Steelmen the huge prize that lies before them.

A victory over Ross County on Premiership duty this Saturday would see 'Well jump one place and replace the Staggies in fifth, a Europa Conference League qualifier spot.

Rangers meanwhile will contest this year's Europa League final against Frankfurt after a dramatic 3-2 aggregate semi-final win over RB Leipzig.

Alexander was watching the match and says it's provided him a taste of what could be coming to Fir Park if they reach the continent.

But he's aware form must improve as they sit three games away from finishing the season, currently on a run of one win in 15 league matches.

The 50-year-old said: "When we are trying to recruit players, we talk about the opportunity to compete at this level. We have been to Ibrox this season and gone unbeaten with two draws.

"You then see Rangers beating some big clubs there, so we can say to our players that we are competing against these type of clubs. We are holding our own.

"There's a lot of positives things to be involved with in Scottish football. When you see those nights, and I know Motherwell have had it in the past, we have to look at it thinking 'I want a bit of that.'

"I can remember being a player and seeing other teams getting promoted. I wanted to be part of that and when it does happen to you, then you want to chase it again.

"You look at other clubs with a hint of jealousy thinking that you want it to be you. We have an opportunity to do something like that."

Alexander concedes that results haven't been good enough of late, but looking at it over the course of a season, believes it can still have a great term.

He explained: "We are here for results and post-split they haven't been where we want them to be. But we have deserved a lot more from some games.

"The result is the most important thing and we won't shy away from the fact our results haven't matched some of our performances.

"You can't then forget about trying to perform as long-term that's what gets you results. We need to keep doing the things we are doing and getting those fine margins to go our way.

"We are realists, but I don't think anybody can say we have been disastrous in the games. Come the end of the season, if we take European football, nobody can begrudge us saying it has been a good 18 months for the club."

Follow Lanarkshire Live Sport on Twitter via @LanLiveSport, like us on Facebook or find us on Instagram for the latest sports news, pictures and video.

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