NICKY HAYEN has revealed he speaks to his deceased mother before every game – and it’s a pre-match ritual which appears to be paying off.
The Club Brugge boss, 44, is preparing to face Atalanta in Tuesday’s vital Champions League playoff.
Club Brugge head coach Nicky Hayen has enjoyed immense success since taking over[/caption]
The former Haverfordwest coach has said he talks to his deceased mother before each game[/caption]
Hayen was thrust into the Brugge job last March, initially on an interim basis.
The 44-year-old guided the team to a Belgian championship and penned a permanent deal in the summer.
Club Brugge beat Atalanta 2-1 in the first leg of the playoff tie last week.
Hayen is confident his fearless side can come away from Bergamo with a famous win.
But prior to kick-off, he revealed an emotional ritual which he holds before every game.
He explained: “Before the match I always talk to my mother, who passed away four years ago.
“It was much too early.
“Last year before the [Belgian league] playoffs I told her we wanted to do something crazy, and in the end winning the title was the result.
“Am I deeply religious? No, but I do feel that it is something for me. I must believe there is something.”
Hayen spent the majority of his playing career in Belgium’s top divisions, first at Sint-Truiden and then RBC Roosendaal.
He hung up his boots in 2014, embarking on several coaching roles to learn the ropes.
Just three years ago, Hayen coached at Haverfordwest County in the Welsh semi-pro Cymru Premier.
He is now a Champions League manager – and catching the eye of scouts around Europe.
Brugge are playing in their fifth consecutive Champions League season.
And Hayen admits it could be a “difficult evening” ahead in Italy, despite his side arriving with an aggregate lead.
He continued: “Atalanta will definitely play more attacking. At home they also want to be more dominant.
“They also have the team for that, so we expect a difficult evening.
“We have to play our own game and especially show the tactical discipline of last week.
“My plan for the match hasn’t changed because it was 2-1 last week.
“We did very well, because Atalanta is a very strong team. I believe in my squad.
“We play with a lot of guts in this Champions League, but that mustn’t turn into naivety.”
