Mamelodi Sundowns co-coach Manqoba Mngqithi has explained what their game plan is when facing teams parking the bus and made reference to Kaizer Chief
Mamelodi Sundowns co-coach Manqoba Mngqithi has explained what their game plan is when facing teams parking the bus and made reference to Kaizer Chiefs.
Sundowns got back to winning ways in the DStv Premiership after a last-gasp 1-0 win over Chippa United on Wednesday.
Chippa played with numbers behind the ball for the majority of the game but after persistent attacking from the Brazilians, Peter Shalulile eventually snatched the winner in stoppage time.
Mngqithi says they expect 80 percent of the teams in the PSL to play with "a very low block", including some big teams.
"It’s what we always anticipate that we are going to have more than 80% of matches played with a very low block, and this is what’s been happening throughout the seasons and sometimes even some of the big teams resort to this strategy against us," Mngqithi said on the club's official website.
Mngqithi suggested that in order for them to win against teams that play with a low block, they need to press high and score early, like they did against Chiefs where they won 4-0.
"We are always preparing our team for that and we do create the opportunities that we want to create because our wish always is to break the game down very early, which is what I think is what happened in our game against Kaizer Chiefs," he said.
"Whereby very early in the game we’ve already put them on the sword and now they must come out.
"But if you don’t score those early chances that you get – if you bury one of those chances then the game changes its complexion and it becomes very difficult for the team that had planned to sit back when they now have to open out and come to you.”
Sundowns are set to meet another big team, Orlando Pirates in the semi-finals of the MTN8 early next month.
Pirates have always played an open game against the Brazilians in the past seasons but that has resulted in Masandawana gaining an upper hand.
Sundowns have won the last four meetings against the Buccaneers in the league (4-1, 0-2, 0-3, 1-0) and the last time the sides met in a Cup, the Brazilians humiliated Pirates 4-1 in the Nedbank Cup last season.
With new coach Jose Riveiro preferring a three-man defence system, that has seen them concede only three goas in seven league games, can he finally end the Brazilians' dominance over Pirates in the last few seasons?
Sundowns have struggled against teams playing with low block this season, should Riveiro also park the bus against the Brazilians as a big team? Let us know in the comment section below.
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