Motherwell outclassed, admits McGhee

MOTHERWELL manager Mark McGhee last night admitted his team had been out of their depth as they were eliminated from the Uefa Cup in the first round by Nancy.

The French side won 2-0 at Fir Park, completing a 3-0 aggregate triumph to deliver a huge anti-climax, both for Motherwell on their return to European football for the first time in 13 years and for McGhee on his managerial debut in continental competition.

"We were outclassed tonight," said McGhee. "We can't deny Nancy were a class above us. I thought they were very good, a lot better than they were two weeks ago.

"It is something we have to aspire to, that movement and touch. That was probably as good as we can play in many ways, at times our possession and movement was alright, and if we have that tempo and performance level against Falkirk on Sunday we should win."

McGhee insisted he did not regret the comments made in his Sunday newspaper column where he expressed the hope his team "would kick Nancy's teeth in".

"When I said that, I was talking euphemistically, about trying to beat them," he said. "I made sure I shook hands with their manager before the game and he knew things were fine."

Pablo Correa, Nancy's Uruguayan coach, shrugged off the pre-match controversy, saying: "I shook hands with McGhee before and after the match, there is no problem."