Kaizer Chiefs coach Nasreddine Nabi insists he will not be tempted to use a low block and rely on counterattacks despite the current struggles.
The Glamour Boys have lost 12 games from the 26 played in the Premier Soccer League, winning eight matches and drawing six. They have further conceded 31 goals and scored 24, meaning they have a deficit of seven strikes. Amakhosi have not won any of their last seven games in the league, with the latest one being a 2-1 loss against Orlando Pirates last weekend.
Ahead of the Nedbank Cup final against the Buccaneers on Saturday at the Moses Mabhida Stadium, the Tunisian has played down suggestions he should consider playing ugly to win, especially when his team doesn't deliver with beautiful football.
Nabi argues that it is not Amakhosi's DNA, promising to strive just to see his players win with an attractive approach.
‘Chiefs have made progress'
“I understand the fans, the critics, the results are very bad, and I understand, but I know why I am here, I don’t want to give too many excuses. I take responsibility and move to the future, with everyone in the same direction, taking the right decisions for the future,” he told the media.
“I am sure we will win in this process together, it’s normal [the noise], the fans love winning, I understand them; you need to accept that when you lose too much points, it’s normal to get this reception, this negative reaction but you don’t need take this critics [that hard] because I believe in this process and I know what’s needed to go to the next step.
“I think we have made progress, I give you can example, if I wanted immediate results, it’s possible, that when I started having some problems with fans, players, I could play low-block and helicopter football and I’m sure I wouldn’t lose the points as we lost this season,” Nabi continued.
‘Chiefs want to play the right football'
“But honestly; if I come here, Chiefs recruited me, not to play a low-block, this is not the DNA of Chiefs, I need to respect the DNA of this club, it’s not possible that a big club plays a low-block for immediate results to make fans happy,” Nabi added.
“You have to take responsibility, how many have we lost and played very well, we don’t score but concede with set-pieces or counter-attacks because we play with a high line, with protagonist football, and this you need to accept, you lose some games. But it opens one's eyes to what we need for the future.
“We want to play the right football, Chiefs football, with results, the difference is here, I’m honest, I don’t work for myself here, for my CV only, but I work for the process to develop that style of play at Chiefs,” he concluded.
The Nedbank Cup final will be played from 15.30 hours SAT.
