We’re well into the 2025/26 campaign now and for the first time in a while there’s a genuine sense of optimism around Fir Park. Motherwell look organised, confident and — whisper it — actually enjoyable to watch.
When Jens Berthel Askou was unveiled in the summer many of us weren’t quite sure what to expect. A Danish manager talking about “possession football” and “building from the back” sounded ambitious for a team that more often relied on grit and graft.
But fair play to the man — the early signs are good. Askou’s got the team playing with purpose. We’re keeping the ball better, using the width of the park, and trying to control games rather than just survive them. It’s a big shift in mentality, and it’s starting to pay off.
There have been hairy moments, sure — the odd misplaced pass in our own half still gets the heart racing — but at least there’s a plan. The football has identity again, and that’s something we’ve missed.
It’s becoming something of a theme at Fir Park, another season, another cup semi-final. After last year’s run ended against Rangers, this time it was St Mirren who halted our progress, with a 4–1 defeat at Hampden. It wasn’t the ending we wanted but it was a mark of progress. Getting to the last four in two seasons running shows we’re no longer just making up the numbers.
In the Premiership the Steelmen are starting to find some consistency. A tidy 2–0 win over Dundee United followed by a 1–1 draw away to Aberdeen has pushed us up to sixth place in the table.
The United game was exactly what Askou’s been after — calm in possession and composed under pressure. At Pittodrie, it was more of a grind, but they dug in and got a deserved point. It’s that mix, football when we can, fight when we must, that’s keeping us competitive.
You can feel the belief returning. The players look fitter, the passing sharper and the confidence higher. It’s not been flashy every week but there’s balance and that’s half the battle.
Askou’s vision is clear — he wants Motherwell to be brave on the ball and organised without it. The wide areas have been crucial, with full-backs pushing high and the midfield working to recycle possession rather than just lumping it forward.
There’s also more calmness under pressure. We don’t look as panicked when pressed and that’s down to coaching and confidence. The new signings over the summer have slotted in well and the overall shape of the team feels more cohesive.
Of course, there’s still room for improvement. We’ve been guilty of switching off at key moments and defending counter-attacks remains a work in progress. But overall, the direction is right — and the performances back it up.
