Da Cruz told to drop ‘shocking’ Kaizer Chiefs formation

Calls for Kaizer Chiefs coach Fernando da Cruz to drop his three-man defensive formation continue to grow louder.

Da Cruz has been criticised for sticking with a back three, or at times a back five,[ since his team’s fourth match of the season against Mamelodi Sundowns in the wake of the team’s poor results.

Since switching to a three-man defence, Chiefs have drawn 1-1 with Sundowns, 2-2 with Richards Bay, beaten Siwelele FC 3-2 before a 1-1 stalemate against Polokwane City.

Kiazer Chiefs coach Fernando da Cruz in training. — Coach Fernando da Cruz in training. Image: Kaizer Chiefs

They were leading against Sundowns and Polokwane before conceding late while they nearly threw the game away when they played Siwelele.

Da Cruz slammed over defensive formation

The fact that they have still been conceding even after switching the formation at the back has been used as the stick with which to beat Da Cruz and the latest to hit out at the French coach is ex-Chiefs midfielder Thabiso Malatsi.

“The coach’s formation is shocking,” he told KickOff. “You can’t, at a big team like Chiefs, to play with five defenders, it won’t work. At a big club, it’s either 4-4-2 or 4-3-3, that’s the style of Chiefs.”

Pule Mmodi of Kaizer Chiefs playing against Siwelele FC. Image: Kaizer Chiefs

“This thing of five (or three at the back) does not work. And these youngsters are promising. Even the likes of (Lebohang) Maboe, (Siphesihle) Ndlovu have raised their hand. Ndlovu now is no longer just defensive, he can be offensive, he creates,” he added.

Rare praise for Kaizer Chiefs coach

However, while Malatsi is critical of Da Cruz’s defensive formation, he has praised the Chiefs coach for showing faith in young players.

Inacio Miguel of Kaizer Chiefs in action against Sekhukhune United. Photo: Kaizer Chiefs

“The players are coming well but what I like about him (Da Cruz) is that he believes in these youngsters, it is just that our defence is poor,” Malatsi further stated.

Chiefs have another tricky test on Sunday as they play away to Golden Arrows at Mbombela Stadium a game they must win if they do not want to slip out of the title race so early in the season.