Lee Johnson has revealed how Hibs’ uplifting fans healed his hurt and re-energised him.
The Easter Road boss was in a state of despair last weekend after the home loss to Motherwell. When he woke on Sunday morning Johnson’s mood was still bleak. At that point he realised he had a supporters function to attend later in the day. Johnson said: “We had the Sunnyside fans’ Player of the Year awards and you’re thinking, ‘I could do without this’. But in reality you get there and you realise they’re the proper supporters, they’re fully behind the lads and you. And it turned from something I went into thinking this’ll be tough to coming out really encouraged and buoyed by the fact that when the dust is settled, the supporters love the lads, love the staff and love what we’re trying to do. They can see it.”
The enthusiasm coursed through him as he added: “Of course it does because who motivates the motivator? Obviously you have drive as a manager but sometimes you can’t see the wood for the trees. Because what you think you’re seeing actually doesn’t come to the fore and that’s when you’re left scratching your head.
“At the same time I really believe in what we’re doing, the project, and that’s why it’s such a great club and why I never lose an ounce of enthusiasm. Every day I get up and come to training it’s not a slog for me.
"This is a front-foot, full-on drive to take the club forward. And the frustrating thing is taking two steps forward and one step back, just when you think you’ve cracked it.
"People tell me this a lot about Hibs. And it slaps you in the face!”
Johnson can't help himself. He is engulfed by the job and the desire to make Hibs a force. He said: “I’m up here on my own effectively. My family are back down in Bristol. And what that means is you’re all in, from 7am to 11pm.
“Whether you’re looking at data, the opposition, watching training back, trying to find ways to improve platers, looking at opposition. So it can become super intense and when a crescendo builds up to a game and then the game is a damp squib in terms of our performance it’s disappointing, it bloomin’ hurts.
“You want to do well, you want the club to do well. It’s not about me, it’s about giving all I have to add value to the club.
"When that falls short for whatever reason you take responsibility, as all managers do. But it’s difficult, and it’s tough for the players because they don’t want to go out and perform poorly, particularly at home.
"And it’s difficult for the fans. There’s a real fickle nature to football, which is understandable, but you have got to be the calm in the storm sometimes.”
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