Queens Park Rangers v Hull City: How Tigers boss Sergej Jakirovic is learning to trust his players
SERGEJ JAKIROVIC was "sceptical" at first about giving some of his Hull City players a proper international break but it has helped to build trust between the Bosnian and his charges.
International "breaks", especially in the first half of the season, are rarely anything of the sort, with some Championship players flying around the world to represent their countries, others on the training ground ironing out faults.
But six wins and three draws in the last 11 Hull games were followed by a week off for those players not involved in World Cup qualifiers, and they have returned revitalised for Saturday's game at Queens Park Rangers.
"It's very important because every time we are all together again, they are like it's the first day of pre-season," said Jakirovic. "They are very calm, rested.
"It's especially mental because sometimes you are tired from everything.
"My first international break (as Hull coach) when we decided to do this, I was sceptical because I never did this before (at his previous clubs). Always three or four days was the maximum (time off) but here, I think it's maybe the best.
"We are split always into three groups – those who lack the minutes, they will play for the under-21s, those who are injured, they trained until Friday (last week), they hde just two days off.
"Without the national team players, we don't have (enough) bodies for training.
"We could stay or, I don't know, have three days off, but maybe we will lose more than we will get."
The break has been good for him too.
"From now until March (the next international break), I don't have time to go back home because it's a lot of games," he said. "My wife, kids will come to me (over Christmas). Sometimes you are relaxed when your family is around you."
And taking this approach has strengthened the bond between coach and players.
"My players have more experience than me (of the English football schedules)," said Jakirovic.
"They were very surprised but I'm trusting you that you will do what we agreed, that you will do that at home. They did. I'm very happy because of that.
"They see I'm trusting them and they trust me. Man-management is always very important.
"I believe in them, especially now.
"At the beginning you don't know their habits but then you speak with the most experienced players, because they know the league. Now we are ready, we know everything about this league.
"After the last two international breaks we were very good. It was not an easy schedule but we took a lot of points and we will try to continue like this. "