Kaizer Chiefs midfielder Thabo Cele has revealed that the team is working to fix a crucial defensive flaw despite their perfect start to the Betway Premiership season.
The South African midfielder is identifying transition defending as their primary concern.
Cele admitted that conceding on transitions remains their biggest problem and the technical team is implementing tactical solutions to address this vulnerability.
Cele made these comments during a press conference at the Kaizer Chiefs Village in Naturena, Johannesburg on Monday morning ahead of their game against Richards Bay on Tuesday at FNB Stadium.
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"Our problem has been conceding on transitions, so we are trying to be in control, especially in the opponents' half more so that we can create more opportunities and maintain control in the opponents’ half. Those are the things we are trying to improve on tactically. Playing for this club, the expectations will always be there, and we are here because we want to handle the expectations and feed people what they are expecting, which is good results," Cele told the media.
"Obviously, not everything will be perfect, and we are trying to improve in how we play and how we create opportunities, and how we maintain not conceding after having not conceded in the two games. We are trying to minimise teams from creating opportunities against us, and then us creating more. It is important for a team like us to win home games. It will help even improve the numbers at the stadium because FNB is a huge stadium. For us, getting good results and performances are going to bring a better atmosphere. We want teams to feel it is our home, so it is important. I think in every position it is important to have competition. It makes us better. If you look at our games, we have a lot of games, so we need that squad depth in every position. Obviously, with the midfield you can see that there is that depth and competition which is healthy for the team. Playing in so many competitions, we want to compete everywhere, so it is important for the squad to have depth," Cele added.
The Chiefs midfielder then reflected on the positives and how the team is starting to excel as a unit.
“I feel like at the beginning of the season it is important to build a foundation for things to come in the season. It has been positive, and we are trying to maintain and improve many things. So, that has been the situation. We told ourselves that we want to start on a positive note, and we are grateful we managed to get those results. Looking forward to tomorrow and getting good results because that is what we play for. It is a collective because we are growing together as a team," stated Cele.
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Cele emphasized the importance of team development and how the Netherlands preseason camp has contributed to building unity within the squad, while outlining the club's tactical evolution under the current technical team.
"As you can see, it is a growing team within the club and we are trying to get to the next level. Back in Holland, the pre-season was about trying to create the bond within the team knowing that it will help us and it is helping us already. We just want to get together and move forward as a team and get good results. Tactically, we are trying to keep the positive things from last season, that is what we are working on. And also implement the new things, like I have always said, we want to control games, we want to dominate games so that games don’t become too difficult for us to avoid many transitions," Cele concluded.
Chiefs will be looking to continue with their excellent form at FNB Stadium on Tuesday evening.
