Fernando da Cruz’s Kaizer Chiefs Philosophy Doubted by Club Legend in Manchester United Comparison
- Tshepo Masilela raised doubts about whether Kaizer Chiefs fully researched Fernando Da Cruz's football philosophy before appointing him
- The Kaizer Chiefs legend drew a comparison between Da Cruz's situation at Amakhosi and Ruben Amorim's controversial tenure at Manchester United
- Chiefs remain unbeaten in the Betway Premiership after seven matches but have drawn four games, raising questions about their ability to convert performances into wins
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Former Kaizer Chiefs and Bafana Bafana defender Tshepo Masilela has raised serious doubts about whether the club's hierarchy conducted sufficient research into Fernando Da Cruz's football philosophy before appointing the Portuguese coach as head coach.
Speaking on the Soccerbeat podcast, Masilela acknowledged that Chiefs have made a reasonable start to the Betway Premiership season, sitting unbeaten after seven matches with 13 points from three wins and four draws. However, he argued that the recurring defensive errors and the inability to convert promising performances into victories point to a deeper structural concern at the club.
Da Cruz's style under scrutiny
Masilela stopped short of labelling Da Cruz's approach as purely defensive, noting that players such as winger Pule Mmodi feature prominently in the setup. He also pointed to Chiefs' attacking output, with 12 goals scored across their opening seven league fixtures. However, he said conceding seven goals, often through preventable mistakes, had become a costly pattern.
"When I look at the way they set up, I don't think they're defensive, he could say he's playing a winger a wingback in Pule Mmodi but also his team is scoring but the mistakes at the back always disappoint them and sees them drop points," Masilela said.
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His central concern, though, is whether Chiefs adequately evaluated Da Cruz's coaching identity before bringing him on board. Unlike coaches who have managed high-profile clubs such as Pyramids FC or Yanga SC, Da Cruz's tactical tendencies were less publicly visible, making it difficult to assess whether his style would align with what Chiefs traditionally expect from their football.
"Another thing is it's not like Da Cruz was coaching a Pyramids FC or a Yanga SC and we got to see how he sets up his team so we can see if he's an attacking coach or possession-based and that maybe brings me to question whether the club did their homework on how plays and if that will fit the culture the club prefers," Masilela added.
Amorim parallel at Manchester United
Masilela drew a comparison to Manchester United's experience with Ruben Amorim, who persisted with his preferred back-three system despite widespread calls to abandon it, ultimately at the cost of his position.
"It's the similar things that happened to a Manchester United when they hired Ruben Amorim, even when he got suggestions that he should change his back three, he opted to lose his job while playing in a way he believed in," Masilela said.
Da Cruz has similarly shown a willingness to remain committed to his principles at Amakhosi. Whether that consistency becomes a strength or a liability may depend on how well his vision aligns with what the club expects long-term.
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Source: Briefly News
