Kaizer Chiefs are PSL's Manchester United! It's not working

South Africa legend Benni McCarthy has pointed out confidence as the reason why Kaizer Chiefs and Manchester United are struggling for consistency.

For instance, the Glamour Boys made some good signings at the beginning of the 2025/26 campaign, bringing on board players who could help them to challenge for silverware.

Kaizer Chiefs players inspecting the pitch before training. Photo: Kaizer Chiefs

It is the same case with the Red Devils, who have been inconsistent in the Premier League, dropping points in games they should win confortably. The Kenya coach has underlined why that has been happening.

Why Kaizer Chiefs are exactly like Manchester United

“For outsiders, it’s impossible to speculate why this, why that. 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,” he told iDiski Times.

Benni McCarthy during his session with Manchester United

“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,” the former Red Devils strikers’ coach added.

Kaizer Chiefs’ confidence is low

“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,” McCarthy continued.

Dejected Kaizer Chiefs fans after their team lost in a PSL game

“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.

Kaizer Chiefs players feeling the pitch. Photo: Kaizer Chiefs

“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,” McCarthy concluded.