Hibernian head coach David Gray expresses confidence as his team prepares to face Midtjylland in the Europa League qualifying round, drawing strength from their strong finish last season.
The Scottish team, which climbed from the bottom of the Premiership to secure third place, will face a Danish side that finished just one point shy of the top in their domestic league. Hibernian's remarkable form included a club-record 17-game unbeaten streak.
"We know that if we play to our full potential, we're a very good side, but we must be at that level because this is a challenging tie," Gray stated. "Midtjylland is a well-coached team, but we are focusing on what we can do based on last season's performance."
Gray emphasized the importance of the two-legged tie: "This is a 180-minute match, so whether you go a goal up or down early, there's still a lot of football to be played."
Summer signing Jamie McGrath, who has cherished European nights with Aberdeen, is eager for new experiences. "Hopefully, we can showcase our abilities," said the 28-year-old midfielder. "They're a strong team accustomed to group stage football. We have a tough task, but we are dangerous on the counter and can score against anyone. It should be an exciting game."
McGrath hopes to return to Easter Road with a positive result to energize the home crowd. The winner will face Norway's Fredrikstad, while the loser will enter the Conference League against either Oleksandriya of Ukraine or Serbia's Partizan Belgrade.
Team News
Australian defender Lewis Miller is unavailable, but Hibernian has no other injury concerns. Record-signing Thibault Klidje could debut after joining from Luzern, and McGrath may partner with fellow newcomer Josh Mulligan in midfield.
"The new players have integrated well," Gray explained. "That's a testament to our squad, with natural leaders like Rocky Bushiri aiding the process. The team's unity was crucial to last season's success, and we've maintained that spirit. It's not just about numbers; it's about bringing the right people to the club."
Midtjylland's European Ambitions
The MCH Arena, with a capacity of just over 12,000, hosts a club that has established itself among Denmark's elite, finishing first or second in the Superliga in six of the past seven seasons. Despite being a relatively young club, Midtjylland has played 56 more European games than Hibernian, highlighting their pedigree.
Last season, they reached the Europa League playoff round, narrowly losing to Real Sociedad. In 2021, they eliminated Celtic from Champions League qualifying, having reached the group stage the previous year. Midtjylland aims for their seventh group stage appearance in UEFA competitions, while Hibernian has yet to advance beyond the preliminary rounds since their introduction.
"Competing in Europe is integral to our club," said Midtjylland manager Thomas Thomasberg. "We aim for the group stage annually. I've observed various styles from Hibernian, depending on the opponent. They might be cautious away, but they can also be aggressive. It depends on our ball control and whether they press high or sit back."
Mixed Danish Memories for Gray
Hibernian's victory in the 2016 Scottish Cup set up a clash with Brondby in the same competition stage. The Danes won 1-0 at Easter Road, but Gray, famous for his stoppage-time winner at Hampden, scored in Copenhagen to force a penalty shootout. Unfortunately, Scotland's John McGinn missed, ending their campaign.
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