Motherwell's expansive style can take players to a whole new level, says defender Johnny Koutroumbis

Motherwell full-back Johnny Koutroumbis admits the expansive style of head coach Jens Berthel Askou really has him looking at the stars.

The 27-year-old Aussie had never been asked to be part of a team based on passing and playing out from the back until Askou arrived in the summer, but admits that buying into the Dane’s philosophy has really changed his view on what might now be possible in his career.

‘It was definitely different,’ he said. ‘It’s not something I have been a part of and when he first introduced how he wanted to play, it was exciting.

‘Being able to keep the ball and all that stuff is great, but you improve as an individual. I think your career can take a step upwards, and that step upwards can be tenfold.’

In yesterday’s goalless draw with Hearts, however, Motherwell showed they can be just as effective without the ball in negating the league leaders and counter-pressing with real intent.

‘We won’t shy away from our principles, whether we’re playing against the team that’s first or last,’ he said. ‘But we’ve become a team that’s also dogged off the ball whereas before, at the start of the season, we were allowing easy goals to go in.

‘You can say all you want about working with the ball. I think some games are won off the ball. Clean sheets win you championships.

‘I think it is trying to find that balance. Looking back at pre-season and those games at the start of the season, there was a lot of emphasis on playing with the ball because every player was sort of new as well.

‘It was a different system that none of us had been used to, so there was a lot of emphasis on having the confidence to play out of sticky situations, taking that risk to keep the ball.

‘It doesn’t happen overnight. And, look, we’re not perfect still. We make a lot of mistakes on the ball, and we know that. But we have improved off the ball and we can take longer spells without it. The players get it.’

Fir Park played host to a terrific 10,939 crowd against Hearts and Koutroumbis takes great heart from the way the local community has responded to the way the team is playing under Askou.

‘I mean, they are the heartbeat of this football club. Without our fans, there wouldn’t be a football club,’ he said. ‘To hear that there was a record-breaking attendance is great. I’m honoured to have everyone come watch us play.

‘We play exciting football and people want to come see it. Without our fans, we are nothing. They sacrifice time and energy and money to come watch us week in, week out. Some come on a Wednesday night as well, and they’ve got work in the morning.

‘It’s an amazing town, amazing suburb of Motherwell as well. It’s always friendly, walking the streets. You always get stopped and it’s good.’