'Day off and Merry Christmas and see you in Sheffield': Hull City boss Sergej Jakirovic's festive plans for his players
IT was the late, great Brian Clough who used to say that the key to preparation was relaxation.
Hull City head coach Sergej Jakirovic's mantra ahead of the hectic Christmas and New Year programme is similar, even though it will hardly be a case of letting his players over-indulge in festive ‘excesses’.
What the Tigers chief will afford his squad is some valuable quality time with their loved ones on Christmas Day, with hauling his players in on December 25 for some training prior to the Boxing Day trip to Sheffield Wednesday being off the menu.
City's players have certainly earned their time off, having produced a peerless response to a difficult evening against Middlesbrough earlier this month, registering three wins on the bounce to move up to fourth place in the second tier.
Jakirovic said: "They know the schedule is ‘day off and 'Merry Christmas' and see you in Sheffield. We will travel on game day to Sheffield, but this is completely normal for me.
"They can be with their families, and this is also sometimes very, very important and you can bring another energy with you."
Jakirovic's own loved ones have travelled over to East Yorkshire from the continent to spend some time with him themselves, including son Leon, who plays for Dinamo Zagreb and is currently on a winter break.
Jakirovic added: " My family are here. My older boy is a professional player in Dinamo and had a lot of work to do before December 20. After that, it's 12 days and they have a pause and then they're starting again.
"So the boys and my wife are here with me, so it's like I'm home. Because I feel right at home here.
"I'm very happy because I'm living here and it's peaceful and people are very polite - and especially now when we have good results."
Hull will be backed by a sell-out contingent of 3,900 supporters in the Leppings Lane end at Hillsborough on Friday.
City are assessing midfielder John Lundstram before deciding whether he will be involved.
The former Sheffield United player has been sidelined since the start of December with a knee problem.
The 31-year-old had only made his return from a previous injury issue late last month, when he came on as a substitute at Stoke City on November 29.
He had been out since mid-autumn with a calf complaint.