Ahead of their much-anticipated Nedbank Cup semi-final clash with Mamelodi Sundowns, Kaizer Chiefs’ head coach Nasreddine Nabi was candid about his team’s struggles.
With Sundowns having beaten Amakhosi three times already this season, Nabi admitted that his squad was in a difficult spot as they prepared for the match at Loftus Versfeld on Sunday.
Acknowledging the Struggles
Nabi did not hold back when assessing his team’s recent form.
“To be honest with you, I can’t say that we are in a good situation,” he said.
The Kaizer Chiefs coach pointed out that the team had faced significant challenges, particularly in matches against teams that they were typically expected to outperform.
He explained that despite these struggles, the team had been working hard to address the underlying issues.
Reflecting on the Past and Moving Forward
The coach went on to explain that although Chiefs had been grappling with tough results in recent games, they had taken the time to analyze and discuss the issues with the players.
“We’ve had a lot of meetings between the players and us,” Nabi shared.
“As the technical bench, we try to understand the situation and work to correct it.”
He emphasized that while they had reviewed past performances, the focus now was on looking forward, specifically towards the important clash with Sundowns.
The Pressure of Results
Looking back at previous fixtures against teams like Cape Town City, Golden Arrows, and Richards Bay, Nabi acknowledged that Kaizer Chiefs should have ideally secured nine points from those matches.
However, he recognized that they had fallen short, and he took responsibility for the results.
“We were thinking a lot about these games, but I think we take responsibility if we don’t win this game,” he said, clearly under pressure as his team faced another formidable challenge.
Optimism for the Nedbank Cup Semi-final
Despite the setbacks, Nabi remains optimistic about his team’s chances in the upcoming match against Sundowns.
Although Kaizer Chiefs have suffered three defeats to Sundowns this season, the coach believes they’ve learned from their past mistakes.
“We’ve analyzed all the situations,” Nabi explained, adding that there was no point in dwelling on past failures.
“We are finished discussing what happened before,” he said. Now, his focus is entirely on the upcoming match, hoping to secure a spot in the final and end their six-year drought in the competition.
With the weight of the past three losses to Sundowns behind him, Nabi and his players are looking to make their mark in the Nedbank Cup semi-final.
The big question now is whether Kaizer Chiefs can overcome the odds and defeat the reigning champions on Sunday.