Motherwell set for Euro venture May 13 2008
Motherwell manager Mark McGhee believes his players thoroughly deserve their European place because of their performances against the top sides in the Scottish Premier League.
Celtic's 2-0 victory over Hibernian assured the Steelmen of entry to the UEFA Cup next season.
They had already put Dundee United and Aberdeen out of the equation with their 2-1 victory over the Dons on Saturday - their third win this campaign against Jimmy Calderwood's men.
Well also put five goals past United in the December game that ended in the tragic death of captain Phil O'Donnell and have beaten Hibs three times, including a four-goal CIS Insurance Cup rout at Easter Road.
McGhee took charge last summer after Motherwell avoided relegation on the penultimate day of the season despite losing at home to St Mirren.
With only two players signed at the start of the campaign, Stephen Hughes and Chris Porter, the team embarked on an incredible improvement to dominate third place from an early stage.
But McGhee insists he has performed no magic trick - just encouraged the players to show their quality.
"The fact is it is not a miracle as these boys are good enough," McGhee said.
"They have been good enough to beat Aberdeen three times, they have beaten Dundee Utd and Hibs really well, we have won at Parkhead and taken points off Rangers.
"They have proven over the season to be good enough and all I have done is brought that out and encouraged it.
"[Assistant manager] Scott Leitch has been a superb lieutenant this year for me. We have worked as a team all of us and we all deserve equal credit."