Mixu knew Hibs would toil against Elfsborg

MIXU PAATELAINEN today insisted no-one should rush to judge Hibs following their InterToto Cup defeat by Swedish side IF Elfsborg.

The Easter Road boss appeared bemused by the reaction in some quarters to a 2-0 loss which leaves the Edinburgh club's hopes of making progress in the competition hanging by a thread.

But today Paatelainen claimed those who were quick to condemn his players had simply ignored the warnings he had posted before the match, that his side would find it tough in what was their first game of the season against a team riding high in the Allsvenskan.

He said: "I half expected what happened. That's why I was so strong in my comments in the couple of weeks before the game. I knew it would be difficult facing a quality team in our first game.

"I knew we wouldn't be ready, match fitness, the tactical side, the way we want to move and pass, everything. It takes time and people don't understand that."

Paatelainen, however, defended his decision to enter the competition in the first place. He said: "I know people will ask why we bothered. We did so to get very, very tough matches, to be tested and to learn from them.

"If you beat someone by five or six goals the supporters are delighted, everything is rosy. But that gives you a false picture, you learn nothing. If people think pre-season matches should be goal-fests they are not on the same wavelength as me.

"If you want to be successful during the season you cannot do that.

"I think we have a fantastic pre-season, terrific matches, great tests in the likes of Barcelona, Middlesbrough, Wigan and these two games against Elfsborg. They will test us, how solid we are, how well organised and if there are any slip-ups they'll punish us.

"I was speaking to the Elfsborg coach (Magnus Haglund] after the game and he was telling me they have been building that team for five years and he reckons this season is the best they have been, he's very happy with the way they play. It takes time but I think if we were to meet a team such as Elfsborg during our season when we are playing at our best then it would be very even."

Despite the defeat, Paatelainen insisted he was pleased with many aspects of his team's performance although it was evident his players began to tire in the final 20 minutes against a side which is midway through their season.

He said: "In the first half I felt we passed the ball surprisingly well. There was a sharpness I didn't expect in our first game and I was pleased about that. We had some good moves.

"Make no mistake, though, there was also plenty of stuff we can improve on and that's why we wanted to play such games.

"It's all part of our preparation as our aim is to be ready for the first SPL game away to Kilmarnock on August 9."