HULL manager Sergej Jakirovic has joked that his players will stop Chelsea by KICKING them.
The 49-year-old coach explained that his players will face a tough challenge in the Premier League against the free-scoring West London club on Saturday.
Jakirovic was asked in his press conference what special measures his newly-promoted Tigers will take to stop Chelsea, after they scored eight goals in their first three games of the Premier League season.
And the former Bosnia and Herzegovina manager wasted no time as he joked that Hull could deliberately foul their opponents at Stamford Bridge.
Jakirovic said: “Kick them.”
Chelsea’s bold attacking approach continued into the Carabao Cup on Wednesday, as they secured a blockbuster 6-3 win against Leeds.
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This has boosted them to an average of 3.4 goals per game in all competitions this season.
Jakirovic then went on to explain that his side will not look to make the same mistakes as Chelsea’s previous opponents.
He continued: “If you are man-marking, you don’t have a chance. It’s very simple, because they are capable to pass one, two, three players.
“Together, effort as a team. We will see. They have a very big quality, it will be very demanding for us. Tough, but it’s a great challenge ahead of us.”
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Saturday 12 September
Bournemouth
15:00
EPL
Brentford
Villa
15:00
EPL
Forest
Chelsea
15:00
EPL
Hull
Palace
15:00
EPL
Ipswich
Liverpool
15:00
EPL
Fulham
Spurs
17:30
EPL
Everton
Sunderland
20:00
EPL
Arsenal
Sunday 6 September
Arsenal
2 – 1
EPL
Chelsea
Everton
2 – 2
EPL
Man Utd
Saturday 5 September
Hull
0 – 0
EPL
Villa
Forest
0 – 0
EPL
Spurs
Man City
1 – 0
EPL
Coventry
Fulham
2 – 3
EPL
Palace
English Premier League
Pld
Pts
GD
W
D
L
Form
1
3
9
5
3
0
0
2
3
9
5
3
0
0
3
3
7
3
2
1
0
4
3
6
1
2
0
1
5
3
5
3
1
2
0
6
3
5
2
1
2
0
7
3
5
2
1
2
0
8
3
5
2
1
2
0
It has been a strong start to the season for the Tigers, after winning last season’s Championship playoff.
They have remarkably remained undefeated to make an early climb up the league, sitting third after three matches.
This has included an opening weekend win against Manchester United and a victory over Coventry.
Hull’s winning run was then brought to an end with a goalless draw with Aston Villa on Saturday.
Yet Chelsea remain firm favourites, despite the Tigers being the only club yet to concede a Premier League goal this season.
Jakirovic has also been given a fresh injury boost ahead of the clash with John Egan, Paddy McNair, and Brooke Norton-Cuffy all being cleared to play.