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 play-off.
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.
[bc_video account_id=”5067014667001″ application_id=”” aspect_ratio=”16:9″ autoplay=”” caption=”AC Milan manager walks out of Champions League press conference after just one question ” embed=”in-page” experience_id=”” height=”100%” language_detection=”” max_height=”360px” max_width=”640px” min_width=”0px” mute=”” padding_top=”56%” picture_in_picture=”” player_id=”default” playlist_id=”” playsinline=”” sizing=”responsive” video_id=”6368763379112″ video_ids=”” width=”640px”]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.”