Nicky Hayen, the coach of Belgian club Club Brugge, has shared a unique aspect of his pre-match routine, revealing that he seeks guidance and motivation from a deeply personal source, his late mother, whom he speaks to before every game.
Hayen took charge of Club Brugge on an interim basis in March 2024 and led the team to remarkable success, securing the Belgian championship title.
His impressive achievements earned him a permanent coaching contract in June, and this season, he has guided Brugge to the Champions League playoffs and second place in the Belgian league standings.
Speaking to the press ahead of Tuesday night’s game, Hayen opened up about the routine he believes has contributed to his success.
He credited this practice with helping him secure the Belgian championship and confirmed that he would continue it as his team travels to Bergamo to face Atalanta.
“Before the match, I always talk to my mother, who passed away four years ago—far too soon. 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,” he said.
When asked if he is deeply religious, Hayen responded: “Am I deeply religious? No, but I do feel that this means something to me. I have to believe there is something.”
However, he acknowledged the challenge ahead, expecting Atalanta to come out fighting after their first-leg defeat.
“Atalanta will definitely play more attacking football. At home, they will want to dominate, and they have the squad for that, so we expect a tough match. We have to stick to our game plan and, most importantly, maintain the tactical discipline we showed last week.
“My approach for the match hasn’t changed just because the first leg ended 2-1. We performed very well against a strong Atalanta side. I believe in my squad. We’ve played with a lot of courage in this Champions League campaign, but we must ensure that bravery doesn’t turn into recklessness,” he added.
