I talk to my dead mother before every match – I truly believe it helps us, admits Champions  League manager

NICKY HAYEN has revealed helium speaks to his deceased parent earlier each crippled – and it’s a pre-match ritual which appears to beryllium paying off.

The Club Brugge boss, 44, is preparing to look Atalanta successful Tuesday’s captious Champions League play-off.

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Club Brugge caput manager Nicky Hayen has enjoyed immense occurrence since taking over[/caption]

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The erstwhile Haverfordwest manager has said helium talks to his deceased parent earlier each game[/caption]

Hayen was thrust into the Brugge occupation past March, initially connected an interim basis.

The 44-year-old guided the squad to a Belgian title and penned a imperishable woody successful the summer.

Club Brugge bushed Atalanta 2-1 successful the archetypal limb of the playoff necktie past week.

Hayen is assured his fearless broadside tin travel distant from Bergamo with a celebrated win.

But anterior to kick-off, helium revealed an affectional ritual which helium holds earlier each game.

He explained: “Before the lucifer I ever speech to my mother, who passed distant 4 years ago.

“It was overmuch excessively early.

“Last twelvemonth earlier the [Belgian league] playoffs I told her we wanted to bash thing crazy, and successful the extremity winning the rubric was the result.

“Am I profoundly religious? No, but I bash consciousness that it is thing for me. I indispensable judge determination is something.”

Hayen spent the bulk of his playing vocation successful Belgium’s apical divisions, archetypal astatine Sint-Truiden and past RBC Roosendaal.

He hung up his boots successful 2014, embarking connected respective coaching roles to larn the ropes.

Just 3 years ago, Hayen coached astatine Haverfordwest County successful the Welsh semi-pro Cymru Premier.

He is present a Champions League manager – and catching the oculus of scouts astir Europe.

Brugge are playing successful their 5th consecutive Champions League season.

And Hayen admits it could beryllium a “difficult evening” up successful Italy, contempt his broadside arriving with an aggregate lead.

He continued: “Atalanta volition decidedly play much attacking. At location they besides privation to beryllium much dominant.

“They besides person the squad for that, truthful we expect a hard evening.

“We person to play our ain crippled and particularly amusement the tactical subject of past week.

“My program for the lucifer hasn’t changed due to the fact that it was 2-1 past week.

“We did precise well, due to the fact that Atalanta is simply a precise beardown team. I judge successful my squad.

“We play with a batch of guts successful this Champions League, but that mustn’t crook into naivety.”