Early Substitution of Bradley Cross Explained by Kaizer Chiefs Coach
Kaizer Chiefs head coach Nasreddine Nabi recently addressed the controversial decision to substitute defender Bradley Cross just 30 minutes into the match against Stellenbosch FC.
Despite Chiefs being down 1-0 early in the game, they fought back to secure a 2-1 win on Wednesday evening.
Cross, who was making a rare start after recovering from an injury, was pulled off the field after just half an hour of play.
Nabi offered some insight into his reasoning behind the change.
Tactical Adjustment Was Needed
According to Nabi, the team started well in the opening minutes but soon began to struggle with their defensive formation.
“We controlled the game for the first five minutes, but then we noticed some confusion with our three-back system.
That allowed Stellenbosch to take charge and have more possession of the ball,” he explained.
To address the situation, Nabi made a tactical decision to substitute Cross, replacing the left-back with a winger in order to shift the team’s approach.
“It’s not easy to come back from behind against a strong team like Stellenbosch and score twice.
It requires character, and we showed that today,” he added, noting that the tactical switch helped Chiefs turn the game around.
Cross’ Reaction to the Substitution
Bradley Cross appeared visibly frustrated and disappointed after being taken off early in the match.
His teammates on the bench were seen offering words of encouragement to him.
Substituting a player so soon in a match is never easy, and it was clear that Cross was affected by the decision.
Injury Struggles and Squad Depth
This season, Kaizer Chiefs have faced several injury setbacks, particularly in their defensive lineup.
Left-back Bongani Sam, signed from Orlando Pirates, has been out of action, and Cross was also sidelined for a few weeks before making his return against Cape Town City.
With these injuries affecting the team’s depth,
Nabi will need to consider options moving forward, including whether or not to bring in a new left-back in the January transfer window.