Hull of a rebound under Mini-Mourinho

It seemed Marco Silva had taken on a nearimpossible job when he was hired as manager of Hull at the start of January.

The promoted club from northern England was up for sale, in last place in the Premier League and planning to sell some of its best players. Money was tight, fans were disgruntled and a squad short on big names had been struck by injuries in key areas.

Silva, a 39-year-old Portuguese coach labelled Mini-Mourinho by some after his illustrious coaching compatriot, was new to the English game and was facing a tough and gruelling immediate run of matches across three competitions.

At his presentation as Hull’s third permanent coach in a sixmonth span, Silva said survival in the Premier League would be a “miracle” but urged fans to believe in him.

Somehow, though, he’s turning things around, just like he did in his first coaching job at Portuguese team Estoril.

Silva has worked wonders in the transfer market and on the field.

Operating under financial constraints, he saw key midfielders Robert Snodgrass and Jake Livermore sold from under his feet and reacted by making seven signings — predominantly players on loan and rejects from bigger clubs.

On the training ground, Silva worked hard, with defender Curtis Davies saying the coach literally dragged players into the positions he desired.

Days off were cancelled. Silva was hard, but fair.

His impact was been astonishing. Hull has won all four of its home matches under Silva.

Among the defeated teams were some stellar names, Manchester United in the League Cup and Liverpool in regular league action last weekend.

“I am not a miracle worker,” Silva said. “But that is not important. I am a worker, I want to work and keep our goal in our minds always, but my feet always stay on the ground.”

Hull — a team with an eclectic mix of youngsters, misfits and journeymen — has climbed to 18th place and within a point of safety.

A trip to Arsenal on Saturday suddenly holds no fear for Silva’s team, and why should it? The last time Silva was in the dugout at Emirates Stadium, he was in charge of Olympiakos and the Greek side stunned Arsenal 3-2 in the Champions League in September 2015.