Kaizer Chiefs coach Fernando Da Cruz has publicly addressed the mounting pressure on his tenure, urging patience as the club handles a slow start to the season. The Frenchman pointed to long-term projects at clubs like Arsenal and Paris Saint-Germain as examples of why time is needed for a rebuild to bear fruit.

Da Cruz spoke candidly about the expectations that come with managing one of South Africa's biggest clubs. "The most important thing for me is that the fans must be happy," Da Cruz said. "We are only on our job." He acknowledged results have not come quickly enough to satisfy supporters but stressed his daily focus is on incremental improvement, placing considerable pressure on himself.

Defending the timeline

Kaizer Chiefs remain unbeaten in the Premier Soccer League but have struggled to turn performances into wins, sitting fifth with 14 points from eight games. They have managed only two victories in their last eight matches across all competitions. Da Cruz referenced Mikel Arteta's seven-year process at Arsenal and PSG's long pursuit of the Champions League as benchmarks, arguing that instant success is rare in major rebuilds.

Internal and external scrutiny

This call for patience comes amid reported disagreements within the club's hierarchy over team selections, adding to the internal tension. Externally, the team's form has been inconsistent, with a recent run of one win, three draws, and one defeat in their last five outings. They currently trail league leaders Mamelodi Sundowns by nine points in the standings.

A decisive continental night

The immediate focus shifts to continental competition, where scrutiny could intensify. Kaizer Chiefs host Red Arrows at Moses Mabhida Stadium on Friday in the second leg of their CAF Confederation Cup tie, trailing 1-0 on aggregate after Alassane Diarra's 77th-minute winner in Zambia last week. Failure to overturn the deficit and progress would likely increase the pressure on Da Cruz significantly.

Chiefs will hope their midweek result provides momentum, having beaten Red Arrows 1-0 in a domestic cup match just days ago. Attention then turns to a massive Soweto Derby, as they travel to face second-placed Orlando Pirates on 31 October. The outcome of the next seven days could define the early phase of Da Cruz's project at Naturena.

First reported at Briefly News