Nancy boss Jacques Rousselot blasts Motherwell

Aug 31 2008

SNEERING Nancy chiefs last night labelled UEFA Cup rivals Motherwell inferior long-ball merchants.

Despite making a poor start to their Ligue 1 campaign the French club expect to be too good for Mark McGhee's men in a bruising first-round clash.

Nancy president Jacques Rousselot said: "People think we will be playing a club less classy than ourselves.

"However, I remember two years ago when we were the underdogs in our UEFA Cup tie against Schalke but still won.

"I am sorry the second leg is not at home but we'll adapt. I expect we will be up against harsh opponents who play in the purest British style imaginable."

However, Well keeper Graeme Smith insists his side can shock the French and grab a UEFA Cup windfall.

The Fir Park men are just 180 minutes away from a lucrative group stage place in their first Euro campaign for 13 years.

Well travel to Nancy for the first leg on September 18 and Smith said: "They will be happy they got us considering some of the other teams in the draw.

"But hopefully that plays in our favour and we prove a surprise package. Going away from home first is good and we can get a good result there."