Kaizer Chiefs News Today: McCarthy gets Man United and Arsenal in UCL, Amakhosi warned over defensive shape

The latest Kaizer Chiefs news, as former Amakhosi defender Aden McCarthy discovers who he’ll face in the Champions League league phase and the club are cautioned that their makeshift back three could leave them exposed if they aren’t careful.

McCarthy handed daunting Champions League draw

Former Kaizer Chiefs defender Aden McCarthy’s rapid rise from the Naturena academy continues to gather pace, with the young defender now set to test himself against some of European football’s biggest names.

Sabah FK, McCarthy’s Azerbaijani club, sealed a historic first appearance in the Champions League league phase after coming from behind to beat Israeli side Hapoel Be’er Sheva 5-2 after extra time, completing a 6-4 aggregate win in their play-off tie. That result alone secured McCarthy’s place as South Africa’s sole representative in this season’s competition.

Thursday’s draw then handed Sabah a brutal set of opponents. Landing in Pot 4 due to their league ranking, the Azerbaijani champions will come up against Barcelona, Arsenal and Manchester United among their league-phase fixtures.

It is a remarkable step up for the 22-year-old, who only left Chiefs for Sabah in the middle of the year after establishing himself in the Amakhosi first team following Rushwin Dortley’s long-term injury.

From breaking through at Naturena to lining up against three of the continent’s traditional heavyweights, McCarthy’s journey shows no signs of slowing down.

Kaizer Chiefs warned over three-man defence

Back home, Fernando Da Cruz’s early-season switch to a three-man central defence has come under scrutiny, with question marks growing over how sustainable the system is for Amakhosi.

The change was forced rather than chosen. With every recognised left-back at the club sidelined through injury, Da Cruz has repeatedly turned to a 5-3-2 shape, using a makeshift wing-back to cover the position while adding an extra body at the back.

The approach paid some dividends against Mamelodi Sundowns, catching Miguel Cardoso’s side off guard and helping Chiefs to a 1-1 draw at FNB Stadium before a 2-2 draw with Richards Bay on Wednesday.

But observers have cautioned that relying on unfamiliar personnel out wide is a risk that will eventually catch up with the Soweto giants, particularly against sides with the pace and quality to target the space in behind an makeshift wing-back.

“The defence was terrible, honestly. It’s wet, you’re playing with three slow players at the back and at the same time you’re playing a high line. Obviously you will be exposed,” former Chiefs winger Junior Khanye told iDiski TV.

“Chiefs are not a team that are comfortable building from the back when pressed. It’s not their strength.”