Kaizer Chiefs co-coach Khalil Ben Youssef has watered down expectations on the Soweto giants as they still have opportunities to end the season with a treble.
Starting the season ineligible to take part in the MTN8, the Soweto giants were eliminated from the Carling Knockout, which was their first chance for a piece of silverware this term.
They are now left with the Nedbank Cup, the CAF Confederation Cup, and the Betway Premiership as the only realistic major trophies they can lift. After 12 league matches, Chiefs are fifth on the PSL table with five points fewer than leaders, and Soweto rivals Orlando Pirates.
Winning Sunday’s match against TS Galaxy will see Amakhosi end the year second or third on the standings, depending on the victory margin. When the season resumes in January after the 2025 AFCON break, Chiefs will also be fighting to breathe life into their Confederation Cup Group D campaign after failing to win their first two games.
BEN YOUSSEF TAKES THE PRESSURE OFF CHIEFS PLAYERS
“We have to work and continue to believe. We don’t have to put pressure on ourselves because you see now we are performing well in PSL. People will start to discuss about the trophy and everything. We didn’t promise [to win] the [PSL] trophy,” said Ben Youssef.
“It’s true that we are a big team and we play every time for the trophies, but also we have to be logical in our mentality, in how we think.
“Like I said about the CAF competition, you can’t be out of the CAF competition for a while and then you come one season to play and to think only to win this trophy.
“In the PSL last season, we were number nine, so first we have to finish the season in the top four. And if we get the opportunity to win one trophy, we’ll fight for the trophy, but we have to start building step by step, and you don’t have to put a lot of pressure.”
RELATED STORY: Khalil Ben Youssef identifies ‘big problem’ plaguing Chiefs since 2019