John Sutton is hoping Motherwell can learn from the Norwich City blueprint and defy their underdog status to make a lasting impact in the UEFA Cup this season.
John Sutton is hoping Motherwell can learn from the Norwich City blueprint and defy their underdog status to make a lasting impact in the UEFA Cup this season.
As a youngster, Sutton remembers watching his local team, with brother Chris in their ranks, send ripples throughout Europe when they recorded a surprise victory over a Bayern Munich team that featured the likes of Lothar Matthaus, Mehmet Scholl and Thomas Helmer.
The English side were making their European debut, and few gave them a chance against the German club but a 2-1 victory in the Olympic Stadium and a 1-1 draw at home in the return leg was enough to send Norwich through.
Sutton subsequently watched his big brother reach the UEFA Cup final with Celtic, but it is the bashing of Bayern that resonates longest in the memory as Motherwell prepare to face AS Nancy in France this evening.
"I went to a few games when Chris was at Celtic and the atmosphere at these games was incredible," he said.
"I also went over with my dad to Seville when Celtic were in the UEFA Cup final which was quite a extraordinary achievement. The first time, though, that I saw him playing in Europe was when he was with Norwich.
"They beat Bayern Munich then went out to Inter Milan. It's a similar situation to us as they weren't one of the biggest clubs in England.
"They did well in the tournament, despite being underdogs to Munich and then Milan. I was really young at the time and you hear the name Munich and you think, what a team they are going to be'. In the end, though, it's just 11 versus 11 on the pitch and Norwich played very well and got through."
Like most of his team-mates, Sutton will be making his European debut in the Stade Marcel Picot this evening and, while acknowledging the threat Nancy will pose, is just relieved to have avoided the continent's elite in the draw.
"The attraction of the UEFA Cup is huge," said the player. "As a footballer you never know if you will get the chance to play in Europe and, hopefully, I will at some stage tonight. It will be fantastic for everyone involved.
"When you compare Nancy to someone like Valencia, who we could have got, then, with respect, we're a little bit relieved that we have got a bit of a chance. A team like Valencia are expected to reach semi-finals or finals every year, so that would have been tougher. If we put in a good performance, then hopefully the second leg will be a crackerjack at Fir Park."
An aggregate victory for Motherwell would propel them into the group stage, from where a place in the last 32 is a distinct possibility, but Sutton is resisting the urge to look too far ahead.
"If we get through, there will be some massive teams left in there, and with the seeding, you're guaranteed some huge games," he claimed. "Look at Aberdeen last year. You only play four games in the group stages and the top three go through so you've every chance. However, you don't want to look too far ahead as Nancy are a very good team and finish fourth last year."
