COACH ERNST PLEASED WITH PLAYERS’ MENTALITY IN GALAXY WIN
22 March 2021
The psychological aspect is crucial in football and Maritzburg United head coach Ernst Middendorp believes his men are improving in this regard.
Goals from Bongokuhle Hlongwane and Thabiso Kutumela earned the Team of Choice a vital three points against TS Galaxy at the Mbombela Stadium on Saturday, with the clean sheet in the 2-0 win an added bonus.
“Its a one against one mentality, something that we worked on in particular at the start of the second half of the season,” Middendorp said.
“There were one or two moments in the end [when Galaxy pushed for a goal and United keeper Marcel Engelhardt made some brilliant stops], but of course we are very happy with the three points.”
For coach Ernst, natural ability and skills are only part of what makes a good player and a successful team.
“As a player who has abilities, skills, as a team it doesn't mean anything, its nothing if the one parameter is not around – attitude, mentality, this combined – then you can play a good game, show good performance, and in the end you will make the points. And we have the skills, the skill-set is there, individually and as a team.”
United had other chances to score in the game, and for this coach Ernst has credited the intensity at which they performed in Mpumalanga on Saturday.
“Sometimes you have to think about why somebody makes an error, probably we put pressure on the ball, pressure on the pass and we had a very high pressing line.
“And I think this is very crucial. For this, you need the players who are doing it. Players who want to do fancy left, right, moving a little bit around, sorry you cannot achieve anything.”
Following the international break, Maritzburg will return to action in a DStv Premiership encounter against Chippa United at the Harry Gwala Stadium on April 3.
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