Hectic Marink Reedijk's Hibs coffee machine, 30-minute meetings and remembering the names

Appointed on September 24 to replace David Gray, Reedijk embarked on a “pre-season on steriods” - essentially stuffing a summer’s worth of work into a fortnight, in which Hibs went to La Manga to learn exactly how the 35-year-old Dutchman wants to play.

“The pre-season on steriods is now over,” smiled Reedijk in his first Hibs pre-match press conference ahead of facing Dundee United at Tannadice on Saturday. Supporters will get now a chance to see what this team has to offer under new management following two years of Gray.

Reedijk has promised intensity and entertainment. He also believes he has the tools already in the building to deliver on his vows. “I feel a good buy-in,” he said. “I feel a good vibe. I feel very good energy, from not only players and staff, but also the people who are working in the building and from the fans. So this is a good start and now we need to continue and deepen this.”

Victories will help. A trip to Tannadice is hazardous at the best of times. Dundee United showed what they are capable of by beating St Mirren 3-0 away from home last time out and will pose Hibs a stern test.

Reedijk joked that he has met so many people recently, he has forgotten his own name and certainly couldn’t take in all of the journalists who introduced themselves on Friday at East Mains. The last week or so has been “hectic” after first meeting the Hibs hierarchy in London - not least because he has held individual half-hour meetings with all of his players as he strives to understand what makes them tick.

“So, from one day to the other day, you're in Edinburgh,” said Reedijk. “Then you meet the new people here. First, the staff members you work with, the board I already knew because of London. Then also in the stadium, I wanted to get to know the people there. Since we do it together and everybody here is really involved, these are also people for me which are really important. So, therefore, I wanted to know them as well. Then you come here to the training ground.

“Again, same story. A lot of new faces, new names. You asked me just there, remember my name as a challenge. Good luck. This is close to impossible for me now. But over time, this will come. However, it's important that everybody feels seen and feels belonged. So, that was that. And then we went to La Manga.

“And then you really got into how do the players look on the pitch. Because normally what you see on video can be totally different when you start to work with players. And then off the pitch, we took 30 minutes each player to speak about the person alive, their goals, their ambitions, things they like to work on, what they expect of us. And that was with 21, 22 players already.”

Inside the meetings with Hibs players

Reedijk pauses to catch his breath. “So, imagine in five days we did this. So, it was five players each day. And then we trained double sessions. So, it was six o'clock up in the morning and then 11 o'clock at night. I was happy that I knew my own name still. And then when coming here, back in Edinburgh, then it was about focusing on the next match and preparing yourself, getting to know the opponent of tomorrow inside out and make a plan on this. And, yeah, that is really intense, everything together.

“And at the same time, you look for housing and you look for those kind of personal elements. So, that's really good. And on Thursday, I spoke with the fan forum. And it's also really good to have these, have an idea about who they are and that they know who I am. Because, again, we do things together.”

Reedijk needs buy-in as he plans to change the way Hibs play. He is expected to lean upon the 4-2-3-1 formation that served him so well in his last role at Beveren, who won the Belgian second tier with 28 wins and four draws. He prefers aggressive, attacking football. He likes width, hence why former Rangers winger Rabbi Matondo has come in. He is now a manager who is used to winning, albeit at a lower level than the Scottish Premiership.

Reedijk described his 30-minute pow-wows with his players as "really important” to what he wants to achieve. “And I think 30 minutes is not enough, but it's a good starting point to get to know where players want to go to,” he explained. “Everybody has a different path, is in a different phase of his career. And therefore, I need to understand what makes them tick, where they want to go to.

“But also, what does their personal situation look like? Do they have family here? Do they have family somewhere else? How does it look like? How do they feel about this? Do they have kids or religion? Those kind of elements in order to make sure that you have a quick introduction to get acquainted with the individual. And over time, you can speak. Because I have the best coffee machine in the building here ...”

Reedijk certainly needs his caffeine. October comes at him thick and fast, with a Hallowe’en Premier Sports Cup derby against Hearts on the horizon.

"Of course I have been told,” he said of the rivalry. “And it is very clear to me as well that this is one of the most important games. What I really enjoy about this is that this is why we are in football, that this rivalry comes to life on the pitch in an appropriate manner. And that we will get the three points here in Edinburgh every time, but on the good side of Edinburgh.”

Tannadice first, Hampden later. Life at Hibs shouldn’t be dull with Reedijk in charge.