Lukas Fadinger has emphasized his commitment to serving as a role model for new teammates as Motherwell aims to build on its strong performance from last season. The Austrian midfielder marked a positive start to the campaign by scoring his third goal in as many games during Sunday’s 2-1 victory over Hibernian at Easter Road.
Motherwell secured a fourth-place finish in the Scottish Premiership last season under former manager Jens Berthel Askou, drawing attention for their attractive style of play. However, the club has undergone significant changes during the summer, with Alfred Johansson taking over as manager and around eight players making their league debuts in the recent match against Hibernian.
Fadinger acknowledges the responsibility placed on him and other experienced squad members to help the newcomers integrate smoothly. “It’s our job to make sure the transition is seamless,” he said. “With the players that have left, that’s our chance and also our job to step up and be a role model for the others.”
He also noted that while external expectations have risen, the team’s internal objectives remain consistent. “Our big goal is to be in the top six, but we know it’s hard to get there and with so many new players, it will be a long way – but I think that’s everyone’s goal,” Fadinger said. Reflecting on the win at Easter Road, he added: “It’s hard to go there and win. They’re physically so good and we’ve had so many changes since last year. So many key players left, new players came in, so we’re pretty much a new group. The first games are always hard and I think we did really well.”
Motherwell commenced their season with three consecutive wins, including back-to-back victories over HB Torshavn in the UEFA Conference League qualifiers. The team now faces Helsinki in the third qualifying round. Fadinger expressed enthusiasm for the demanding schedule and the opportunity to compete on multiple fronts. “It’s really intense but it’s the best that you can have as a footballer, having games every three days, especially playing in Europe but also we need to focus on the league because that’s our main target,” he said.
Among the newcomers is fellow Austrian Martin Moormann, a defender who played a crucial role in the win at Easter Road by twice clearing attempts off the line. Fadinger praised Moormann’s impact and presence within the squad. “It’s always easier for me to have another German-speaking guy in the group but he’s done a brilliant job as well and he’s very important for us,” Fadinger said. “I’ve played against him before and he’s a big character – he’s very physical, but also very good on the ball.”
Fadinger also singled out Ibrahim Said, who scored the late winning goal against Hibernian, describing him as a key player with the ability to influence matches. “Ibrahim is just so enjoyable. You can just give him the ball and he does amazing things – it’s unbelievable,” Fadinger remarked. “There are only a few players who can do it with the ball and I hope he gets more goals. He’s a special player for us.”