Posted in News, Team News on Sep 23, 2018.
Amakhosi collected four points from the first five league outings, but got nine points from the next three matches. ‘We started with a handicap,” the Italian reflects, “because I didn’t really have a pre-season with the squad. Then there were a lot of games – play, play, play. The FIFA break helped us to fix some mistakes and to understand the philosophy that I want the team to play to.
“I am happy with the result against AmaZulu and above all about the manner we played. It wasn’t easy though, as they have a good team and they did well against Mamelodi Sundowns last week. It’s great to win three games in a row, but that should be normal for Kaizer Chiefs.”
Amakhosi are now in the fourth position on the Absa Premiership log with 13 points from eight matches.
There is now another break before Chiefs play their next game away against Highlands Park on Tuesday, 2 October.
“I am happy about the break,” Solinas confessed, “because that means that we can work hard to become even better.”
The coach also explained that if the side has to play three games in a week “we will have to change the line-up to keep the players fresh”. That’s why the Italian changed seven players in the starting XI on Tuesday, compared to last weekend’s 4-1 victory over Cape Town City, while there were again numerous changes last night compared to the 2-0 win over Free State Stars. Yesterday’s team, however, was quite similar to the one fielded against Cape Town City.
Chiefs conceded seven goals in the first five league outings, but only let in one during the last three fixtures. “I am happy defensively, we defend as a team,” commented Solinas. Positive is also that the Glamour Boys have already found the back of the net 13 times in eight league outings.
The coach concluded with complimenting his squad: “The players show commitment in training and are eager to learn and improve. We just have to continue doing this. I am an optimist – our spectators haven’t seen the best of Kaizer Chiefs as yet.”