Benni changes tune on City’s senior players

Speaking to the media on Wednesday, McCarthy said his team was playing good football despite failing to win their last three games.

“Yes, we come off the back of three disappointing defeats, but overall, I’m happy,” said McCarthy.

READ: Benni slams senior players, calls referee a ‘cow’

“Look at the stats and the performances. During our good run earlier in the season, we were winning but we weren’t playing our best football. Now, we are playing some fantastic football, but we aren’t getting the results.

“This is a good squad of professionals, and that is why I’m not too worried. There are no alarm bells. In this squad, we win together, and we lose together. We just have to get out of the hole we have dug for ourselves and I’m confident we can do so.

“I’m not a coach who criticises individuals in the team. As a former player, I know that players are their own biggest critics. They will analyse and criticise their own performances. So, after those defeats, I will leave it up to them. My job is just to make sure that we find ways to change our current situation, and to get the players to perform better.

“The main problem right now is that our concentration levels are letting us down during key moments in the game. But everyone in the squad wants to be part of a winning team, and they know that we have to turn things around soon. I trust every single member of the squad. They know their quality – I just think they need to believe in themselves and their quality a bit more.”

McCarthy added City would approach Sunday’s game the same way they did in the first half against Chippa at the weekend.

“You saw how we played in the first half against Chippa that we can deal with that style of play.

“We just have to do so for the entire match. Baroka, though, are high-flyers, and they have the mentality now that they can’t put a foot wrong.

“We have a tough fight on our hands, but we know that we have to turn it around. We are also the defending champions of this competition, and we don’t want to go out in the first round.”

READ: Benni set to face PSL music for ‘cow’ comment?