Former Manchester United strikers coach Benni McCarthy has compared Kaizer Chiefs to the EPL giants, saying both are big institutions in their respective leagues and also being well run, however confidence is a problem.
Chiefs haven’t won the league since 2015 but broke their 10-year trophy drought by winning the Nedbank Cup last season, however finished outside the top eight in the last two campaigns.
- ALSO READ: Benni Shares Views On Title Race Between Downs & Pirates
- Benni On Chiefs Coaching Job Talk
United have suffered a similar fate in terms of the Premier League, where they’ve last lifted the title in 2012 though they won a domestic trophy two seasons ago.
Chiefs are currently fifth on the Betway Premiership table with 33 points in 19 outings, while the Red Devils occupy third place in the EPL with 54 points in 30 matches.
McCarthy spoke to iDiski Times senior journalist Matshelane Mamabolo in edition 246 of the newspaper where he touched on Amakhosi fixing their coaching dilemma and instilling confidence in their players as possible solutions.
“For outsiders, it’s impossible to speculate why this, why that,” McCarthy told iDiski Times when asked about Chiefs’ struggles.
“Because the one thing I can tell you is that they are the most well-run, well-organised football club in this country – the support and everything.
“So, it’s like, it’s genuinely watching Man United because now I can compare because I’ve been there [at Man United], and the feeling that you get is Chiefs is exactly like Man United.
“They are a phenomenal football club, great history. They’ve got the fans. The club is well-run, it is well-organised, and they have everything that you want in a football club.
“But unfortunately, on the football field, it’s not coming together; something is missing, it’s not working.
“They need to figure that out; they need to find a solution. Because once they can get that card right, then good luck to all the other teams.”
McCarthy believes there is a confidence issue among the players – saying it’s something the club’s technical team should be able to fix.
“Where are they now in the league? Fifth, right? So, they must not be bad. They must be okay if they are in the top five in the league. But I think they don’t want that,” he continued.
“Okay, they want to be challenging for cups, challenging for the league title, being in a three-horse race instead of just Orlando Pirates and [Mamelodi] Sundowns as it is now.
“So, yeah, I’m sure whatever coach they decide to get, or if they keep these guys, they have to fix the team. Because that’s a problem, I think.
“Confidence is low within that football club, because if you lose four games on the bounce, then there’s a confidence issue. But players don’t become bad players overnight after four games and that.
“So, I think they just need coaching. They just need somebody to restore what got them, what got Kaizer Chiefs to want to sign them, because they were good at what they were doing. That’s why they accepted clubs like Chiefs to sign them.
“So, I think the players just need to find that oomph about them again, what made them special wherever they were, and they ended up going to Chiefs. And yeah, just the belief, man – it’s their belief that needs to be lifted up.”
Did you know that the iDiski Times Digital Newspaper is completely free! Download it now by clicking the button below or fill in the form to have it sent to you every week.
