Kaizer Chiefs coach Nasreddine Nabi has offered insight into the club's disappointing season, which saw them fail to secure a top-eight finish and miss out on the MTN8 tournament.
After a frustrating 0-0 draw against Polokwane City in their final league match, Nabi revealed that the team's struggles stem from his deliberate effort to implement a “big team” playing style, a more complex approach than simply playing like a “small team.”
NABI ON WHY CHIEFS HAVE BEEN STRUGGLING
“This question doesn’t only come from you [that Chiefs have a better squad than most], it comes from too much people, they don’t understand the process of developing [the team], I think… I remember we explained, if you want immediate result, what football proposes this team? It’s a bus 80 meter and counter attack,” he said.
“You imagine Chiefs playing like that in Africa? But Polokwane finish better and in the top eight but with what football? You want this football for Chiefs? For myself I know I came here for a model game what is needed at a big club at Kaizer Chiefs.
“I know we took a risk in defence, but I prefer to win the principles of the game, offensive, protagonist, philosophy of Kaizer Chiefs, like do you want to be in the top eight but we will play Zamalek, Wydad with players 80m [away from goal] would you prefer this as a fan of Chiefs?”
He emphasised that he doesn’t want his team to park the bus and play only with counter-attacks just like many teams are doing.
‘I CAME HERE FOR GAME MODEL’
“Don’t smile, respond to me? In your role of a journalist don’t confuse the fans, because you are a professional, you love football, you love beautiful football, explain to fans, Nabi came here for a game model, offensive because Kaizer Chiefs is a big, it’s not possible for Nabi to put the train or the bus in the 18m [area] and play counter-attack,” added Nabi.
“Explain there, why are you asking me that other teams are top eight, better than [Chiefs]… Stellenbosch is not better than us, they are number three, why I beat them three times, why did I beat Sundowns, Orlando Pirates? With offensive football. Put me on the plane, you want this football??”
