Larsen: It was not a true reflection
On Nedbank Cup semi-final loss to Chiefs
We have played some good football this season – against Bidvest Wits, Black Leopards and even when we beat Mamelodi Sundowns in the Nedbank Cup. The game against Kaizer Chiefs last weekend was one of those games where we just needed a little bit of luck on our side. We played very well and scored two beautiful goals, but once again, we committed errors that cost us the game. Overall, it was a very good game of football. We draw a lot of inspiration and positives from these good performances. I believe that we just need to keep building on these good performances and the results will come. We haven’t been playing badly at all. We have shown that we can play and can control games very well.
On his opinion on the loss to Chiefs
In my opinion, the score line against Chiefs on the weekend was not a true reflection of the proceedings. We had that game under control, even though they also dominated some spells. We deserved more than we got there and, again, poor individual defensive errors cost us. I mean, if you look at our goals, we scored beautiful goals. The first one was a great run complemented by a great cross. The second one, also a great cross that was well-finished. But if you look at how Chiefs scored, there wasn’t really much they did. Their first goal, our keeper, Mbongeni Mzimela, made a mistake and then Dumisani Zuma pounced on it and scored. Their second goal, Tebogo Tlolane was fouled on the corner flag, and the referee waved play on, and they went on to score from that. The third goal, the keeper kicked the ball straight to them and they broke away and scored. We scored two great teamwork goals and gave away three cheap goals. They scored a cracker for a fourth one though. So, yeah, I felt very unlucky, very hard done by. But that is football for you. Sometimes we make these individual mistakes and get punished for them. I was very happy with the performance, but just disappointed with the three soft goals we gave away. It would have been good to get to play in the final, but it wasn’t meant to be now.
On the improvement in the team
We have not dropped many points in the league since I took over the reins. We only lost three games in the nine league games that I have been in charge of the team. From January until now, in almost four months, we have only lost three league games. We only dropped points against Leopards, SuperSport United and Wits. When I took over this team after 17 league games with the four previous coaches, they had only accumulated 11 points. I have collected 12 points from nine games and, as you can see, there has been a significant improvement in the team. I mean, you don’t need to be a rocket scientist to see the improvement, not only in the performances, but in the points collected as well.
On what he needed to change
Like any other coach, I have my playing philosophy and I needed to urgently get that across to the players. And I am very lucky that there are players here that have played for me before, players like Mark Mayambela, Ruzaigh Gamildien, Lerato Manzini, Gladwin Shitolo and Kurt Lentjies. It was easy to get my message across because of that. It was easy because all of them know how I work and how I operate. All I needed to do was make sure that my team is more direct in transition and also that we were aggressive and we attack in numbers. Another thing was box entries. I picked up even before I came here that we were not making enough box entries and I needed to change that because, for a team to score goals, they need to get into the box more. I got my attacking unit to be more direct, especially on transition. We have to put our opponents on the back foot always, especially when we attack. Defensively as well, something I picked up was that there was a reluctance in the attacking players to defend. I changed that immediately and made sure that the likes of Andile Mbenyane, Mayambela, Lentjies and Thabo Rakhale know their defensive duties. I am happy that they have all bought into the way I want them to play and that is why there has been a significant change in the way we’ve been playing as well as in the results.
On the fight for survival
If you look at the fixtures of all the bottom five clubs, you will see that it will not be easy for any of us at the bottom. Everyone has got tough fixtures, whether they play against a title contender or against a fellow relegation candidate. All we have to do is collect more points and move away from the relegation battle. To do that, we have to make sure we give good performances. Good performances will give us wins that will automatically get us points. We have to make sure that we get maximum points in the next two games so that when we get to the last league game against Chiefs, we are not under a lot of pressure to win. But we have it in our hands to save ourselves. I cannot over-emphasize the importance of being mindful of gifting away goals.
On Chippa’s home and away form
In the nine league games that I have played, we’ve only dropped points to Leopards and SuperSport away, if you look at that record, it is a very good record. I mean, we lost 3-2 to Leopards in a game I believe we should have easily won after taking a 2-0 lead in the first half. Not every team goes to Venda and dominate Leopards… you can check all their previous home games. They have made Thohoyandou Stadium their turf. No team has gone there and scored two goals. That is why I sometimes look at the performance more than the score so that I can build on it rather than on the goals scored. We kept Leopards on the back foot for the better part of that game. We completely dominated them! I was really proud of my boys. We have been fairly balanced and have been playing very well, but like I said, we concede in an unfashionable way at times.
On minimizing individual errors
It is individual errors, not the defensive organization. We have managed to keep teams like Sundowns and SuperSport at bay. We have proven that we can defend well, but we need to cut out on these individual defensive errors in order for us to win games. When we make individual errors like that, then it’s really hard to win football matches.