Chiefs coach calls out his players for ‘arrogance’

by Staff Reporter

Monday Apr 29, 2019. 13:00

Kaizer Chiefs coach Ernst Middendorp has criticised his players for being arrogant following a 1-0 loss to Bloemfontein Celtic in the Absa Premiership this past weekend.

The Amakhosi have now gone five league matches without a victory and are in danger of not finishing in the top eight of the log.

Middendorp was an angry man after the defeat to Celtic, in which Ndumiso Mabena scored the only goal at Peter Mokaba Stadium.

"It's always the same. Golden Arrows, Baroka, now Bloemfontein Celtic," the German tactician said after the match.

"We start slow, we start arrogant. We don't start with the right dynamic, the right intention. We mention it again and again. We highlighted it.

"And then we go 1-0 down and the opponent closes the doors and we don't find the key in the final third. Simple, easy," he added.

"It's not the first. It happens again and again. And we have to ask ourselves what are we doing in the beginning,” explained Middendorp.

"I already saw it in the warm-up. I had already addressed three players. The players weren't fired up enough.

“Experienced players - players who have to take the leadership. And then, of course, they only start taking it seriously when we are 1-0 down.

"But as you can see the opponent closed the doors, they worked in a certain direction which made it difficult. In particular, if you don't have the key in the final third, it's not easy.”

Middendorp added, "We start again next week. It's not a secret. We need points. We need to do better. It's very clear.”