When Crystal Palace languished in the Premier League's bottom three in October without a win in eight games, manager Oliver Glasner gave an insight into the managerial style that has now led them to the brink of history.
Asked, after a loss at Nottingham Forest, to explain how he would react to a wretched start that had brought Palace only three points, the Austrian said: "It's time for hugging players, not kicking them."
And there was plenty of hugging at Wembley after Glasner's Palace moved to within one game of the club's first major honour with an outstanding FA Cup semi-final win over Aston Villa.