"To make assumptions about squad selection based on sharpness, I don't buy that narrative," Alfred Johansson told bbc.co.uk as Motherwell prepared for SC Freiburg's visit to Fir Park. His point was clear after the weekend backlash: the eight changes were about managing a brutal schedule and a stretched squad, not taking a soft option before a big European night.
Johansson said Motherwell have been playing a game every three-and-a-half days on average since the competitive season started. He also said between seven and 10 first-team players have been unavailable, with some of those absences caused by freak injuries.
Johansson's case for the changes
The cup exit at Stenhousemuir has put the selection under the spotlight, but Johansson's explanation is based on volume as much as form. Eight changes is a big number in any week. It looks a lot less reckless when a manager is dealing with fixtures every three-and-a-half days and missing as many players as Motherwell have been.
Speaking to bbc.co.uk, Johansson said: "Since the competitive season started, we've been playing a game every three-and-a-half days on average. We've been doing that with between seven and 10 first-team players unavailable, some due to freak injuries."
He went further on the injury risk. "I mentioned on Sunday that I wanted to stop the vicious cycle of overuse injuries. That's why it was very important to put out the team that I believed were the best team to perform."
That does not erase the disappointment of going out of the League Cup to second-tier opposition, and Johansson is not pretending otherwise. But his argument is fair. Managers are judged on results, yet they still have to protect players when the schedule becomes this cramped and the squad list is already thin.
Motherwell are currently sixth in the Premiership table. They also finished fourth in 2025 with 61 points, so this is not a club treating domestic games as an afterthought while chasing Europe. Johansson's job is balancing both, and right now that balancing act looks messy because the fixture load has arrived early.
He acknowledged the reaction as well. "We accept criticism after Sunday, but it has to be the right narrative, the right context."
Freiburg's level makes the call easier to understand
The backdrop to all of this is the size of the task facing Motherwell. SC Freiburg reached the Europa League final last season and arrive after a 3-0 win over Crystal Palace on Saturday. This is not the sort of opponent you stroll into with tired legs and hope for the best.
Freiburg are currently seventh in the Bundesliga table and they also finished seventh in 2025. Their European numbers from 2025 show why they are awkward opponents: five wins in eight Europa League matches, 10 goals scored and only four conceded.
Those figures point to a side that is organised and used to this level. From a Motherwell point of view, that only strengthens Johansson's defence. A manager who knows a top-half Bundesliga side is next is bound to think about preserving legs where he can, especially when seven to 10 first-team players are already out.
Johansson has still tried to frame the occasion positively. Speaking to bbc.co.uk, he said: "We are so happy and proud to be here,"
He also expects the setting to help. "It will be another buzzing night at Fir Park."
Team news and what comes next
One small lift for Motherwell is that Seb Palmer-Houlden, the new arrival from Gillingham, is set to be available for selection. That does not solve the wider availability issue Johansson described, but any extra option matters when the squad has been stretched this heavily.
The debate over those eight changes will carry on if Motherwell struggle again. Still, the stronger reading is that Johansson rotated because he felt he had to, not because he wanted a gentle build-up. Freiburg arrive at Fir Park with last season's Europa League final on their recent record and a 3-0 warm-up win over Crystal Palace behind them.
FAQ
Why did Alfred Johansson rotate Motherwell before facing Freiburg?
Johansson said the decision was driven by workload and availability, not by a simple sharpness argument. He made eight changes at the weekend and said Motherwell had been playing every three-and-a-half days on average, with between seven and 10 first-team players unavailable.
How tough is Freiburg for Motherwell at Fir Park?
Freiburg arrive as a serious test. They reached the Europa League final last season, are currently seventh in the Bundesliga table and beat Crystal Palace 3-0 in their warm-up on Saturday. Their recent European record also includes just four goals conceded in eight Europa League matches in 2025.
Are Motherwell dealing with injuries ahead of Freiburg?
Yes. Johansson said between seven and 10 first-team players have been unavailable, with some of those absences down to what he called freak injuries. He tied that directly to his selection decisions and said he wanted to avoid a cycle of overuse injuries.
Written by Jack Mercer with AI-assisted research, cross-checked against 1 outlet. How we work →
