Sandro welcomes anything in his Christmas stocking as long as it’s not another Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink DVD.
The QPR midfielder made the fateful of mistake of saying he was too young to see the new gaffer in his pomp as a player, especially at Chelsea between 2000-2004 – and then got inundated with links and sendings from his nearest and dearest.
As Rs prepare for a Boxing Day visit to Ipswich, the former Tottenham player insists Hasselbaink’s appointment has forced the squad to sit up and take notice.
“He’s a very strong guy,” Sandro said. “When he speaks you can see the power there. He was a great player and everything he says, you know he’s been there as well. It makes a big difference.
“Intense look? Yeah, for sure; he trains hard, and everyone is going to learn over the next months.
“I knew he was a good player, but I was too young to see him. But when he came, everyone sent me videos of him playing, and telling me about him and all the goals he scored.”
Sandro believes he’s having his best spell at QPR since he joined in summer 2014.
It could hardly have got worse after Rangers were relegated from the Premier League and the Brazilian ran into work permit problems.
It put a full-stop to the 26-year old’s season three games before a dismal end – and he missed the first of six this campaign.
But now all is better, not least because he’s become a midfield pivot under Hasselbaink.
“I feel very strong and happy now, and we’re going to grow with the new coach and his mentality,” he said.
“I’m playing game after game, and I just needed that to get confidence, and if he’s happy with me that helps.”
