Kaizer Chiefs boss Ernst Middendorp has seemingly taken a dig at rival Orlando Pirates after victory in the Soweto derby, saying his side have always wanted the title while others talk about how they ‘don’t want the championship’.
Middendorp boldly sat in front of the media at the beginning of the season and stated that he was aiming to win the Absa Premiership, despite finishing eighth the season before – the worst finish by any Chiefs side in over a decade.
However, after what has unfolded over the course of the season with Chiefs sitting pretty seven points clear of Sundowns, having played one game extra, no one is laughing at the German coach now.
Chiefs have the title in their hands and unless they slip up in the run-in, they are set to end their trophy drought unlike their neighbours.
Pirates came into the derby having somehow got themselves back in the title equation with seven wins and a draw under new boss Josef Zinnbauer, but were reluctant to state their own claim for the title in the lead-up to the derby.
The Buccaneers have instead been claiming to be building for next season, while Middendorp has taken a different approach which he believes has helped inspire his side.
‘I’m always smiling about it if other teams are talking about, they “don’t want the championship”‚ or they want this. We have a very clear objective‚ from the beginning — before we started on August 4‚’ said the Chiefs coach speaking after victory in the derby.
‘I know [people were] smiling all over: “What is this crazy man doing or saying?” And even I said it [that Chiefs were pushing for the title]. Coaches were looking at me and saying: “How can a club pressurise the team in such a way?”
‘And I said: “No‚ let’s restart and let’s do stuff differently.” If you do something differently‚ you will probably have different results.
‘I think this is a very crucial element when we talked to the players‚ gave them the right guidance and mentoring. But in the end, I’m always saying‚ players — individually and collectively — these are the main force we are seeing at Kaizer Chiefs,’ he concluded.
