Membership Brugge head coach Nicky Hayen says he has a “good connection” with Rangers counterpart Russell Martin. However any friendship is prone to be placed on maintain throughout their forthcoming Champions League play-off tie.
The edges meet at Ibrox on Tuesday night time within the first leg with the return the next Wednesday in Belgium.
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“I like Russell very a lot,” Hayen, 45, instructed BBC Scotland. “I used to be in Haverfordwest County when he was in Swansea. We met one another due to Gary Richards (his former assistant at Haverfordwest who beforehand labored at Swansea).”
“I needed to go to Swansea for 2 days. He allowed it. However we by no means discovered the best date. The 12 months after, we organized a pleasant sport between the 2 groups. The sport was scheduled. Then I left the membership to come back to Brugge.”
Hayen revealed the pair exchanged common textual content messages, though they really solely met in individual for the primary time when Brugge performed Rangers this summer season in a pleasant at Ibrox.
“We spoke lots,” stated Hayen. “We texted lots. We stayed all the time in contact. However in fact, tomorrow this does not depend.
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“He is an excellent supervisor. Should you see the outcomes that he obtained in Swansea and Southampton. It is a good step for him over right here. In fact, there’s a number of stress. However I am certain that he’ll take care of it.”
Membership Brugge beat Salzburg to achieve the play-off spherical. And, after making it to the spherical of 16 in final season’s competitors, Hayen is eager to progress to the league part once more this time period.
“The workforce who’s the perfect in protecting the ball, progressing, use the areas, they are going to have a great likelihood to win the sport,” added Hayen.