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Cape Town - Kaizer Chiefs coach Ernst Middendorp has defended his side's style of play after criticism that they rely on set-pieces to score goals.
Last month, Polokwane City coach Clinton Larsen accused the Amakhosi of actively looking to win free-kicks and being over-reliant on dead-ball situations to find the back of the net.
Highlands Park Peter Shalulile echoed Larsen's sentiment after his side's penalty shootout victory over the Glamour Boys in the Nedbank Cup last 16 on Saturday.
But Middendorp has hit back at the critics, saying it is a case of damned if you do damn if you don't, as only last season his side were being criticised for not scoring enough goals from set-pieces.
"We have a goal difference of plus-23 (in the league), and now what are you telling me? We've scored goals out of set-pieces and out of the normal run of the game, sorry," Middendorp told KickOff.
"And there's nothing wrong with it if we have this strong side. Last year I heard it, and I smile sometimes at night when I’m busy with some stuff, 'Man, you have so many set-plays and you’re not making anything out of it.'
"Now, we are putting a lot of work every day and every week (into set-plays, and people are now saying), 'Ah, you only rely on set-plays, what a disappointment…'"
- TEAMtalk media
