The Tigers boss is no stranger to high stakes play-off games
Sergej Jakirovic with Hull City fans at the MKM Stadium(Image: Greig Cowie/Shutterstock )
Sergej Jakirovic may not have experienced the drama of the Championship play-offs, but the Hull City head coach is no stranger to the significant prize being on offer in big pressure games like he’s preparing for with the Tigers.
In his first season in English football, Jakirovic has guided City into the semi-finals with two legs against Millwall to come for a place in the final at Wembley, and a £200m shoot-out for a place in the Premier League.
During his spell with Dinamo Zagreb, the Croatian suffered a 5-4 defeat to Sparta Prague in the Europa League play-offs over two legs, before coming through a Champions League play-off tie against Qarabag the following season, winning 5-0 over two legs.
That experience, Jakirovic believes, will be vital in helping him set up his City side for two games against Alex Neil’s Lions, with the first on Friday night at the MKM Stadium and the second in London on Monday.
Jakirovic also feels the two-play-off semi-finals will be easier for his players to play in, rather than the previous few games at the back end of the regular season.
“These two games, I think, will be easier to play because you have 180 minutes (over two games),” he told Hull Live.
“I have experience from, for example, Dinamo when we played a play-off for the Champions League. You have to be very clever, or wise, in these games because in the first game, we will not decide anything.
“In the first game, there is no away goals, but you have to be better in two games. Who will score more goals or who will concede less, we will see. It’s huge, yes. Who will handle the pressure better? I can say that I can handle pressure better.”
The Tigers’ chief naturally wants a positive result on Friday, but knows everything will be settled on Monday, even if that means extra-time and penalties.
“OK, the first game at home, the target is always to try to win the game, and then you have some advantage because of the second leg, but, no matter what the result will be on Friday, that will be everything decided on Monday.”
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Jakirovic has also spoken of his admiration for the job Alex Neil has done in Bermondsey, after coming agonisingly close to sealing automatic promotion.
“He’s done a great job,” the City boss continued. “In my opinion, he took 120 per cent from his team. I can say we are similar teams in terms of running, in terms of the duels, in terms of the playing style of football. Maybe we’re similar with set-pieces as well. For me, it’s a fifty-fifty. Like I said, who will handle the pressure more (will succeed).”
Gavin Ward will take charge of the game, having overseen City’s 3-1 win at The Den in December and come in for criticism from some Lions’ fans for his performance. Jakirovic, though, is content with the decision to give him the game.
“A friend of mine,” he joked. “I don’t know (if Ward refereeing the fixture in December will have any impact), but I have a very good connection with Ward because he was the fourth referee at Charlton. I think he’s a good referee and he will do his best because it’s a huge game. It’s a huge game, and so everyone must be very, very concentrated and focused.”
City’s home crowd created a cauldron against Norwich on Saturday, which lifted the players, especially when things were not going so well, and he says their influence cannot be underestimated.
“We need this support because in tough moments, the team feels that in tough moments. They push you. If you’re struggling there, they recognise that and they try to push you even more.
“If you don’t have any more strength to run or something, you can change this player (with their noise). It’s very important, and I hope they will be very loud on Friday.”
LISTEN: Sergej Jakirovic and Kyle Joseph preview the play-off semi-final
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