Kaizer Chiefs coach Ernst Middendorp doesn’t want to answer questions on last season’s damaging Nedbank Cup final defeat by TS Galaxy, saying it’s history and he wants to forget about it.
The loss in the final to the first-division side was the lowest point of what was a disastrous 2018-19 season, where they also finished outside the top eight in the Absa Premiership.
They have, however, managed a spectacular turnaround at Naturena by storming to the top of the league and opening up a nine-point gap in second place.
The side look primed to end their five-year trophy drought this season and they will have second avenue in the Nedbank Cup where they will face lower-league opposition in Royal Eagles at FNB Stadium on Saturday.
In the buildup, Middendorp didn’t want to speak about last season’s final loss.
‘I’m not in a position to talk about the Barcelona of Africa and what happened on May 18. It happens, it’s history, let’s forget about this,’ said the German.
‘We started a new season and there’s a new [cup] round coming in, and we respect each and everybody, whether it’s a PSL team or a [GladAfrica Championship] team.
@KaizerChiefs coach Middendorp was not entertaining any questions related to last seasons #NedbankCup final loss to @TSGALAXYFC as Chiefs prepare to face Royal Eagles in the last 32 of the competition. pic.twitter.com/IZgjaEqHFN
— Dean Workman (@DeanoWorks) February 4, 2020
‘We respect their quality and, against Ajax [Cape Town, in their last match], I can tell you Royal Eagles were really unlucky to lose with two minutes to go, otherwise they deserved a point.
‘I don’t need to go back to May 18 or to 2000, whatever, or to the nineties. It happens all the time where you have results not going your way in history – we can take a lot of other [results].
‘If you want to talk about this, what’s coming out [of last season’s final defeat] then sorry, I’m not prepared to do this.’
