Mark McGhee says there is "no stone being left unturned" in preparation for Dundee's crucial Scottish Premiership game against St Johnstone on Saturday.
That includes some strange methods to ensure he maintains his focus on the weekend. McGhee is on a diet which keeps him constantly hungry. He has also turned off all the radiators in his house. The 64-year-old said he told Dundee captain Charlie Adam about his plan. "Charlie says I am off my head," said McGhee.
Dundee are five points adrift of second from bottom St Johnstone, and in need of a victory to stand any chance of avoiding relegation.
'Charlie Adam ended up taking the mickey out of me'
"I was trying to make a point with this with Charlie Adam on Monday and he ended up taking the mickey out of me," McGhee said.
"There are two things I am doing this week to focus on getting the win. The first thing I have done is to go on a diet so I am hungry all the time.
"I then ask myself why am I hungry and I am hungry because there is a big game on Saturday.
"The second thing I am doing – and I have told Charlie I am doing this – that I won’t be using any heating (at home).
"So I will be cold. I then ask myself why am I cold? I can say because of the game on Saturday.
"It is not the two things of being cold and hungry but it is the principle of them because I am asking my own players to make this game as important in their own minds. I want them to focus on the game and this is what I am doing to make sure they are focused.
"For the rest of this week I will be on a strict Lesley Strachan diet and I won’t be using the heating, trust me."
McGhee thinks his preparation will give him a psychological edge and that by Saturday he may feel his side more deserving of a good result.
"That is the way the players need to think," said McGhee.
"We need the players to change because if they keep doing the same things as they have done then it is the Einstein adage that if you keep doing the same things and expect a different outcome then it is madness.
"To change you have to change something and this is what I have adopted as part of the process."
Picture credit: Michael715 / Shutterstock.com
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