Benni McCarthy: CT City have 'matured' since last year's final

Cape Town City coach Benni McCarthy feels that he and his team have grown and improved since last year’s MTN8 final against SuperSport United, writes DYLAN APPOLIS.

The Mother City-based outfit fell short in the top eight final last year after they came out second best to Matsatsantsa, who went on to win the trophy in a penalty shootout.

However, the Citizens will be hoping to redeem themselves this time around in the hope of claiming their first piece of silverware under McCarthy in a repeat of last year’s final at the Moses Mabhida Stadium on Saturday.

McCarthy admits there is more pressure to bring the trophy home this year as he now has a year of experience as a coach.

‘It’s worse!’ McCarthy said about last year’s final compared to this weekend’s encounter.

‘The first one, I was only a month into coaching, so I had no chance of getting fired if we lost. Now I’m steady and I have stability, so now there’s every chance that the chairman might aim a shotgun at me if we don’t get over the line with this one.’

Heading into the final on Saturday, the City mentor insists he is a bit more cautious with their approach to the game, but insists that his side are more ‘improved and matured’ than the previous season.

‘I was fearless then as I had never been in that situation, but now that I have, and after a year in the job, I’m a bit more cautious and a bit more wary of things that could go wrong,’ he added.

‘I was confident the last time that we had a good-enough team to win it, but didn’t think we’d suck at penalties. But I’ve grown and learnt and improved, and my team has also improved and matured, and I think we’re in a better situation than we were last season.’

The match at the Moses Mabhida Stadium kicks off at 7pm.

WATCH: Benni McCarthy addresses the media