Middendorp reveals secret behind Chiefs’ tactical approach!

Kaizer Chiefs head coach Ernst Middendorp has explained how he has avoided being predictable by always trying to come up with something “a little bit different” in his formations to keep his opponents guessing.

Read: Stats prove why Katsande has been Chiefs’ jewel!

The German coach again had something unexpected when his side thrashed Highlands Park 3-0 and then Cape Town City by the same scoreline, to continue their 50th birthday celebrations in style and further extend their Absa Premiership lead by nine points.

Eric Mathoho rises high to score for Kaizer Chiefs against Cape Town City on Sunday at FNB Stadium.
(Image: KaizerChiefs.com)

Coming from their SuperSport United defeat, Middendorp made five changes with his four midfielders which included Willard Katsande and George Maluleka behind Kearyn Baccus and Lebogang Manyama which was quite unusual and yet another system not yet seen from Chiefs this season.

The strategy was working for Amakhosi however a bit puzzling for coach Owen Da Gama to figure out as the Glamour Boys found the back of the net three times.

“That’s why your sleeping time gets a little bit shorter [in the build-up to matches]‚ for one or two days trying to figure out what’s done‚” Middendorp said as quoted by TimesLIVE.

“I think it was important for us to create something where we ourselves feel comfortable with the players we had available. And I think actually the movement was dragging [Highlands’] players in certain directions‚ stretching them here and there – horizontal‚ vertical.

“We had clear ideas about how we wanted to do it. It’s always a little bit different. It’s always a bit of looking into the opponent – coming there and trying to make it a bit difficult for everybody.

“And yeah‚ it sometimes works. And most of the time‚ thank God‚ it has worked during the season with the players we have. With players who understand. We discuss‚ and we have this core of players who can direct it.”

The Naturena-based club will next travel to Limpopo to take on Black Leopards at Thohoyandou Stadium on Saturday, January 18 at 15:30.