Chiefs legend questions Midderndorp’s style of play

Former Kaizer Chiefs midfielder Jabu Mahlangu has expressed his disbelief in head coach Ernst Middendorp’s style of play, which he believes clashes with the players at his disposal.

Read: Mphela’s warning to Chiefs strikers

The 60-year-old coach has been met with tons of criticism from Amakhosi fans after failing to secure a top eight bracket last season, subsequently missing out on the Nedbank Cup final.

Mahlangu who was affectionately known as “Shuffle” during his playing days, says that the coach’s approach does not fit the type of players under Chiefs’ ranks hence why he’s failed to produce results for the club.

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“I still don’t believe in Ernst Middendorp that he’s the right person to coach that team, but it’s fine – I’m not Kaizer Motaung,” said Mahlangu, as quoted by KickOff.com.

“Personally though, with his style of play and philosophy, and the kind of players that he has now, I think he needs to compromise at some point.

“When you’re a coach, you’ve got your philosophy, approach and your style of how you want a team to play, but it’s also crucial to check the players at your disposal – do they fit to what you want?

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“If you have to compromise so that you can make the guys click, then do it. But you can’t be drilling the same thing when the material you have doesn’t allow that.

“Sometimes you must compromise as a coach – you know this is how you want to play but the material that you have doesn’t allow this, so you need to change one or two things so that the machine can move.”

Also read: ‘Chiefs losing out on a lot of money’ – Rama

Middendorp’s charges opened the 2019/20 Absa Premiership campaign with back-to-back wins, beating Highlands Park (3-2) and Black Leopards (1-0) respectively.

They will face SuperSport United in their third league match on Saturday, August 24 at 18:00.

2 thoughts on “Chiefs legend questions Midderndorp’s style of play

  1. I fully agree with Jabu. Middendorp is stubborn & arrogant. It is always his way or the high way. He likes the defensive approach & most of the time his team will score due to other team’s mistakes & not creativity. Players like Ntshangase, Zuma & Mahlasela will not see more games under this coach.

  2. Chiefs should consider the likes of Ruud Kroll, Stuart Baxter actually chiefs should play modern football, attacking football and first man on the ball will work for chiefs.

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