Relief as City end losing run

CAPE Town City coach Benni McCarthy admits his overriding feeling is one of relief after his side picked up a first win in five games, defeating Free State Stars 1-0 in a league clash at the Athlone Stadium in Cape Town on Wednesday.

The fixture was settled by a Taariq Fielies goal five minutes from time‚ with City just about deserving the win on a bumpy pitch that made flowing football difficult.

McCarthy said his side’s latest victory felt better than the six wins in a row that started his tenure with the team.

“The six games we won means absolutely nothing compared to this game.”

McCarthy said he was pleased to see his side play with more aggression and purpose than had been evident since they lost the MTN8 final to SuperSport United last month.

“I asked them to have a bit more desire. As a team it is all good when we have fun and joke and that‚ but when it comes to matches‚ that is what had been missing since the [MTN8] final‚” he said.

“So I was trying to ask the guys‚ if they get this unity and desire back‚ the quality is undoubtedly there. We just could not concentrate previously because we did not have that desire we showed today.”

The City players and bench celebrated the win like they had just won the World Cup final‚ with Fielies heading straight for McCarthy to envelop him in a bear hug.

“I have been telling him since he arrived‚ he is from Salt River‚ he has to have that toughness in him‚” McCarthy said of Fielies.

“He is a hard tackler‚ very aggressive in defence‚ and he has to be like that in attack.”

McCarthy praised the overall determination shown by his side. “The guys showed a lot of grit.”

City go into the three-week break in third place on the Absa Premiership log‚ but McCarthy said any talk of a title challenge must be put on hold for now.

“One step at a time‚ we won’t get ahead of ourselves.”