Ernst Middendorp Unhappy With “Naïve” Maritzburg United Performance!

Ernst Middendorp Unhappy With “Naïve” Maritzburg United Performance! The Team of Choice lost away to Masandawana yesterday.

Maritzburg United was defeated 1-0 by Mamelodi Sundowns in the DSTV Premiership last night. Head coach Ernst Middendorp bemoaned the lack of attacking intent his side displayed throughout the game.

The Team of Choice barely threatened Dennis Onyango in the Mamelodi Sundowns goal. Their best effort came late into the match through Lifa Hlongwane.

This was after they had already fallen behind through a sublime Peter Shalulile finish.

“At half-time we changed the structure,” the Middendorp told SuperSport TV after the loss.

“I was talking exactly about these types of balls that will come to the far post. We changed the structure because of this and then we concede the goal in this type of way.

“It’s very disappointing. In our forward movement in the moment we are not strong enough.

“We need more capacity to make it dangerous against a team like Sundowns.

“It’s not really where we have some combinations but not really forcing opportunities. The being connected, having a connected unit in defence is okay.

“But out of this the next step must come. We must be able to win the ball out of the combination and move forward and do a certain purpose run in front and to produce chances.

“And from this side that was definitely what was missing today.” The German lamented.

“The difference is where we are a little bit naive. The difference between Sundowns and Maritzburg, Sundowns know exactly.

“In the middle if there’s a combination or on the side there’s a combination, four against four, three against three, they know the opponent is not coming out. They have the ball and they know the tactical foul is coming.

“Here in this moment we’re just naive. We are not in a way as it could be.

“We should learn from teams like this. They break you down, come in front of you and it was a result out of a combination.

“It’s not unusual. Everybody knows it but do it in the right way and to stop it.

“And okay that’s a nice combination. But we were not in a situation where were one or two or three in our backline.

“It was two against two. Somebody was in front to cover the space.” The boss said.

The Team of Choice is 10^th on the table after eight matches played. Ernst Middendorp Unhappy With “Naïve” Maritzburg United Performance!