Bert Esselink wants another taste of Europe with Dundee United

Bert Esselink is keen to get back on the European scene as quickly as possible following Dundee United’s Conference League qualifying exit to Rapid Vienna.

The Taysiders brought a 2-2 draw back from the first leg of the third qualifying round in Austria to Tannadice on Thursday night and in front of a packed house Jim Goodwin’s men looked to be heading for the play-off when striker Max Watters headed in the opener after 25 minutes and grabbed his second with a penalty three minutes before the break.

However, Rapid striker Janis Antiste reduced the deficit in the 63rd minute with United defender Iurie Iovu involved in the ball hitting the net and half-time substitute Ercan Kara levelled from close range in the 77th minute to take the game into extra-time and then penalties after it finished 4-4 on aggregate.

Esselink scored his penalty but United substitute Amar Fatah hit the post, the only miss as the visitors triumphed 5-4.

The 25-year-old Dutch centre-back, who signed a two-year deal from Polish side Stal Mielec in June, enjoyed the experience, as well as the previous rounds games against UNA Strassen from Luxembourg, and is looking for more.

“We have to strive for it again,” he said.

“I think as a team we are capable of good things. We had a good game on Thursday, we showed that we can be part of these competitions and that we can compete with these kind of teams.

“So that’s something we can be proud of and we have to strive for again, until the end of the season.

“It’s something you dream of when you’re young and of course, the Champions League is the highest level and then Europa League is there and Conference League is a level that’s also competing in Europe and that’s something everyone is adoring and everyone dreams of as a kid.

“So it’s very nice to be part of it, and it’s something that feels very good.

“You saw the atmosphere here and also in the away games.

“It’s amazing to be a part of, but of course it’s sad that we didn’t go through and that we cannot continue our dream in the group stages because that was our target.

“That’s the sad part, but that’s football sometimes and life continues, and we have to fight to achieve it again for next season.”

Goodwin will assess his squad ahead of the Premier Sports Cup game against fellow William Hill Premiership side Kilmarnock at Rugby Park on Sunday and Esselink is looking to go deep in that competition.

He said: “It was a tough game, of course, playing 120 minutes on Thursday, but we have to sleep well, get a good recovery and then turn our head towards the next one on Sunday.

“It’s the League Cup. It’s a competition where also we want to compete until the end and get as far as possible.

“So we have to get over it fast, focus on the next game and get through to the next round.”

Zac Sapsford will be assessed after picking up a knock winning the penalty against Rapid Vienna which meant he did not come out for the second half.

Goodwin this week added further to his squad after signing Liverpool midfielder Luca Stephenson on another season-long loan, while Julius Eskesen joined from Eliteserien side FK Haugesund on a two-year contract, with the option of an additional 12 months.

Ryan Strain, Kristijan Trapanovski and Ross Graham are all still missing with hamstring injuries and Dario Naamo also missed out against Rapid, while Isaac Pappoe is another long-term injury.