Alfred Johansson has called on his Motherwell players to lift their collective performance to help Tawanda Maswanhise return to top form. The manager stressed that the team's overall play, not only the forward's individual effort, is the key to unlocking the threat that made him a Player of the Year nominee last term.
Maswanhise, who was the top scorer at Fir Park last season, has found the net just once in six Premiership appearances this campaign. Motherwell's recent struggles have been stark, with three consecutive defeats including a 4-0 home loss to Aberdeen and a 2-1 reverse at Dundee on Saturday leaving them ninth in the table with eight points.
"The team needs to play better. That's the answer," Johansson said bluntly. He explained that for Maswanhise to score more, the side requires better build-up, sharper turns between the lines, and a more effective offensive structure in the final third. The Zimbabwean international cannot do it alone, the manager insisted, and must be analysed within the context of the full team's 11v11 performance.
Johansson, who succeeded Jens Berthel Askou in the summer, has continued the possession-based style that brought a fourth-place finish last season. He remains emphatically committed to that approach despite the current bumpy run of one win in seven games. "My job when it comes to development and performing is to focus on the here and now, to help the players in their next training session and next game," he stated.
He acknowledged the project needs time and that setbacks are inevitable. "But I also have a responsibility to not get affected by the results of any one game," Johansson added. "I have to zoom out and understand this is a project that needs time to develop."
The manager expressed full faith in his squad, which he believes has untapped potential. He referenced the attacking threat provided last season by players like Emmanuel Longelo, Elliot Watt, Eli Just, and Callum Slattery as a blueprint for the collective effort required now. With a three-week international break following the Dundee match, the focus shifts to a demanding return fixture against league leaders Celtic at Fir Park on 11 October.
Johansson anticipates no squad changes for the upcoming break, with Callum Hendry, Paul McGinn, and Oscar Priestman still working towards a return to training. Regan Charles-Cook is being managed carefully for his workload. Fans can track the team's progress and view the full squad list on the club's official pages. The next challenge is clear, with the fixtures showing a daunting post-break schedule beginning with the visit of the champions.
More detail at The Scotsman Football
