Johnson – Kaizer Chiefs are anxious!

Kaizer Chiefs interim head coach Cavin Johnson believes anxiety is affecting the performance of the side, after they lost 2-1 in his first game in charge, a DStv Premiership clash with Golden Arrows at the Hammarsdale Stadium.

Johnson has come in after Molefi Ntseki was sacked on Monday, but could not have an immediate impact on results, an in-form Arrows proving too good for Chiefs, as Knox Mutizwa’s double took them back into second place in the table.

“We have to be a lot more calm,” Johnson told SuperSport TV after the game.

“I think because of the results in the last three or four games, we seem to be a lot more anxious, especially when we are close to the opponent’s goal.”

Chiefs have lost their last three games, a 1-0 DStv Premiership loss at home to Cape Town City followed by defeat at home to AmaZulu in the Carling Black Label Knockout, a result that seemed to precipitate Ntseki’s exit.

‘I thought we played well’

Johnson, however, didn’t seem too disappointment his side’s overall display, on a tricky pitch in Mpumalanga.

“I think I have to give a lot of credit to the boys,” added Johnson.

“I thought we played well under the conditions we have come out of (the coaching changes). The condition of the pitch was a bit soggy in places, but it was like that for both teams. I thought we had a lot of a lot of clear one-on-ones in the beginning of the first half, we should have scored. (But) we scored after going behind and that means we were chasing the game.

“In the second half we lost the ball cheaply in their half and they had a counter attack and scored, and then defended for their lives.

“I have seen a better Chiefs than I have seen tonight,” Johnson did admit.

“We will work on it and hopefully get better in terms of fluidity of passing and holding onto the ball. We will see what happens in the next game.”

Chiefs have some time until their next game, which comes after the international break, at home to Cape Town Spurs in Polokwane.