EASTLEIGH’S sleepy little secret has been revealed as they eye a money-spinning FA Cup clash with Manchester United.
The Spitfires host Erik ten Hag’s giants if they shoot down League Two Newport in a third-round replay.
And the National League side’s boss Richard Hill revealed how he keeps so calm… by taking a ten-minute nap just before kick-off.
Hill told SunSport: “I don’t get any nerves before a game and don’t have any jittery feelings.
“I just do what I normally do when the lads go out for a warm-up — I have a lie-down on the fitness table and see if I can get my head down for ten minutes.
“That’s what I did at Newport. I put a chair next to the kit skip, put a coat over me and I had ten minutes.”
Maybe Hill should send pre-match tips to United chief Ten Hag, who cannot afford any embarrassing slip-ups in the Cup.
Hill, who knows victory is worth close to £400,000, added: “This is a massive, massive game for both clubs.”
Eastleigh have already beaten League One side Reading before drawing at Newport.
United still have the chance of winning silverware in the FA Cup this season despite a turbulent campaign.
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The Red Devils are already out of the Champions League as they were eliminated in the group stage.
The Manchester giants have also plunged to seventh place in the Premier League table.
And Ten Hag’s men are eight points away from fourth-placed Arsenal.