Kaizer Chiefs defender Inacio Miguel has boldly stepped up to take responsibility for the team’s underwhelming season, as he defended coach Nasreddine Nabi.
Chiefs’ 2024/25 season carried plenty of hope with the introduction of Nabi as Cavin Johnson’s successor in July last year, but their campaign now heavily hinges on the Nedbank Cup final against Orlando Pirates on Saturday.
Currently in ninth position in the Betway Premiership, and at real risk of again missing out on next season’s MTN8, Miguel says the responsibility is not only on the coach, but on the players too.
“It’s not only the coach that is under pressure; it’s also the players and that’s what people have to understand. The coach doesn’t play, we play. We are the ones that make mistakes, we are the ones that give you victory,” Miguel said.
So, I think the pressure should be shared by the coach, by the players. We have to take that responsibility also, it’s not only because the coach made a bad decision or because the coach made a good decision. No it’s us, the players also and that comes for the senior players as me, as Sirino [Gaston] as all these players, we have to take that responsibility.
“I take it, no problem, I take responsibility of a bad season. Not only the coach, you have to understand, it’s a new season for the coach. It’s a new process, it’s new things to teach to the players to try to make us understand what’s the way for him to play.
“As I said, it’s a process, we have to be patient also, expecting that we can make something different, but the most important thing is to believe in the process.”
Having squandered a 1-0 lead to lose 2-1 in the league encounter last Saturday, Miguel, who watched from the bench over fitness concerns following an injury, says they now have a clear understanding of what they can’t do in the final this Saturday.
“Yeah, now you know, after this loss, at least now we are at a point where we know the mistakes and we can’t make them again. Of course, it hurts, but at least we have a way to go now after we had a disappointing result in the past weekend,” he added.
“Now we know what are the bases we can start from in this game against Pirates and try to do our best to bring the victory home this time.”
