Dundee United learn Conference League draw fate as potential Rapid Vienna blockbuster lies in wait
Dundee United will face either Decic from Montenegro or Austrian giants Rapid Vienna if they advance past UNA Strassen to reach the Conference League third qualifying round.
Jim Goodwin 's team are back at the European table after their fourth-placed finish last term and face the Luxembourg minnows at Tannadice this Thursday before the return leg away from home next week.
They are heavy favourites to advance and, if they do so, they have learned who lies in wait in the next round of qualifying.
After today's draw in Nyon, United learned they will face either Montenegro minnows Decic or, more likely, Rapid if they make it through.
It sets up a potential blockbuster draw for the Tangerines should they make it – and boss Goodwin is certainly confident of a win to take them through to the next round.
He says his players are as fit as he's seen them after a pre-season camp in the Netherlands.
He said: "It's a really important time in the season for us to bring the boys away, where we can spend some real quality time together, not just on the training pitch.
"An opportunity like this to go abroad and for the players to be mingling all the time throughout the day, it's a good chance for them all to get to know each other really.
"It's been double and triple sessions for the players, lots of fitness work but also a really good opportunity for me to get the message across to the players in terms of how we want to play.
"The players are all desperate to get started now. Fitness wise they look fantastic,
"I don't remember in the ten years of being a manager, working with a group of players so physically fit so early on.
"There was a big emphasis on trying to reduce the age of the team but also to bring better athleticism to the squad, better mobility, better pace, all of these things really important to be able to handle the demands of our busy schedule.
"I think we've put ourselves in a really strong position at this time."
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