Sergej Jakirovic says he is looking for "one more miracle" from Hull City this season - and he has no doubts he can pull it off.

The Tigers have been widely tipped for relegation in their first season back in the Premier League since 2017, having finished sixth in the Championship and come up via the play-offs.

Just doing that completely confounded expectations, but now coach Jakirovic wants to see them do it again.

"One more miracle," was his request ahead of Saturday's 12.30pm opener at home to Manchester United.

Hull City celebrate with the trophy following victory in the Sky Bet Championship Final match between Hull City and Middlesbrough at Wembley on May 23, 2026 (Picture: Alex Pantling/Getty Images)

placeholder image — Hull City celebrate with the trophy following victory in the Sky Bet Championship Final match between Hull City and Middlesbrough at Wembley on May 23, 2026 (Picture: Alex Pantling/Getty Images)

Hull were underdogs in May's play-off final, but beat Middlesbrough thanks to a stoppage-time goal from Oli McBurnie.

"I'm very proud," said Jakirovic of that achievement. "I want to never stop this period, maybe to not start the season, to keep this feeling. It's a very big achievement.

"But this is football and you know what happened yesterday, it doesn't matter any more.

"We want to improve, we want to show that we can develop our players, that we can play an even better team as a team. I hope we will show that this season.

"It (staying up) will be an even bigger achievement, I think. We need 40 points. Everything is very clear."

Asked how he felt about leading a team in the Premier League in only his second season in English football management, the former Bosnia international replied: "I'm buzzing. I like this word!

"My job is to prepare the team. I'm aware that it's a very big gap between Championship and Premier League, but also still this is football.

"We will try to make a difficult game for Man United. Of course, they are favourites.

"I can't wait because I also want to compete with other managers.

"Mostly we will be underdogs, but we are used to fighting and will try to use our opportunities there on the pitch.

"This is just sport at the end of the day. I'm not so excited that I can't sleep. I have to be fresh on Saturday."

With a notoriously impatient owner in Acun Ilicali - even if he has said relegation will not cost the coach his job - Jakirovic knows he will have to perform this season, but is confident he will.

"If I see and feel this support, it will be good for everyone," he said. "But of course, this is football and I need also to show my potential, that I can handle this stage of football.

"I don't have any doubt because I showed already that I'm capable to do some great things.

"But we (Ilicali and Jakirovic) have a very good connection since our first meeting, so we do everything together.

"In all decisions, we are always speaking about this and we are trying to improve our team in many ways. We know also that it will be difficult."

And just because he is hoping to beat the Red Devils does not mean he is under-estimating a team who had an outstanding second half of last season themselves after Michael Carrick was appointed to lead the team on a temporary basis. He has since been given the job full-time.

"I think that Carrick showed a big potential," was Jakirovic's verdict on the ex-Middlesbrough manager.

"He put the DNA of Man United from seasons before because now the players know for which club they are playing and also they expect always to win. I think the team follows him. I expect that Man United will fight for top four, top five."

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