Mamelodi Sundowns co-coach Manqoba Mngqithi criticised his side for not being adventurous enough in possession after their 0-0 draw with Chippa United.
It hasn’t been easy going so far for Sundowns as they needed penalties to beat Kaizer Chiefs in the MTN8 quarterfinals before scraping past AmaZulu 1-0 in their opening-round DStv Premiership fixture followed by the goalless draw with Chippa at Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium on Tuesday.
The Brazilians had over 70 percent of possession, while taking 11 shots at goal with four of those on target. Meanwhile, the Chilli Boys did not have a single shot on target and Mngqithi felt his side were too cautious in possession and needed to take more risks, especially when playing against a low block defence.
“Personally, it was a very disappointing performance, we were not aggressive enough, more especially in the first-half,” Mngqithi told SuperSport TV.
“We played with a lot of caution, not wanting to lose possession, as if we’re already controlling the game. Maybe had we scored the chance we got with Peter [Shalulile] early in the match and start playing like that to draw them out, it would have been better.
“But when we don’t have a goal, we have to be a little bit adventurous and force the game, take the game to the opponent, we fought a lot with our full-backs, too many back passes. Midfield, too many back passes,” he said.
The Masandawana mentor said his side not show enough to desire to get the three points.
“It was an area of big concern for us, because it was a very patient, cautious performance, which to be honest if you were to select the Man of the Match, for me it would have been very difficult because today I did not have anything special from anyone,” he said.
“Because the number of shots at goal, the number of dribbles, the number of box entries, the fight to try and get three points, it was not sufficient and we were very unhappy.
“First-half we had a very big talk, they came second-half, try to push but still not enough, not enough incision to try and find the openings behind the defence and in between their defenders.
“Because at times they would kill the depth and make sure there’s no space behind but they still left space in front of their last line but we never really used that very well. But in the second match of the season, there’s always a lot to expect, we wanted to win the match of course but we can take this point because with one counter [attack], one set-piece, it could’ve been different.
“But the truth of the matter is we wanted the three points but I don’t think we fought hard enough, we did not dribble enough, force some individual brilliance, an element of surprise into the game.
“It became too obvious, pass, pass, pass, at times when you’re playing against a deep lying block, you need to create free-kicks, corner-kicks, you need to force situations up until the game breaks out but the truth of the matter is, we’re very disappointed, that’s the fact.”