Chiefs' plan for glory

Kaizer Chiefs coach Stuart Baxter is convinced he has the plan to beat tricky National First Division side United FC when the two teams meet in the Nedbank Cup semifinal tomorrow night (8.15pm kick-off).

Chiefs are still recovering from the shock 3-1 defeat by Ajax Cape Town in Wednesday's league match.

Baxter admitted that perhaps the expectation by the Amakhosi faithful that the team will win the championship and the cup is getting to his players. However, he said the slide will not continue against United at Soccer City.

He believes United play "expansive football", but says: "We've faced a few teams that play expansive football. Sundowns is one team that does it well and we have often coped against them. I think if we return to the basics, we should again be comfortable."

"I don't think we should suddenly change the way we have been playing because of the loss against Ajax. For me, maybe to say it was a one-off is a bit conceited, but I think it was a special one."

United look to have modelled their game on that of the Sundowns of old - with the free-flowing passing style evident on the road to the semifinals.

Their coach Dan Malesela is a former great of the Brazilians and his young team has wowed many.

A large number of the squad are Sundowns players who are on loan.

Baxter refuted suggestions that Chiefs' defence has looked fragile in previous league matches when reminded that tomorrow night's opponents had scored a minimum of two goals in each game so far in the competition.

"Up until the Ajax game, we probably had the best defence in the league [rivals Pirates now have the best defensive record] and we haven't yet had a debrief about it. But we were too open and our defending was not our normal standard," he said.

The one thing Baxter admitted to worrying about was his players' mental state, especially with the remaining two Premier League games two weeks away.

"When you are chasing two trophies you always worry if the players can handle it," he said.

"Our players have also had a difficult and long season because some of the them played for the national team [in the Africa Cup of Nations] and have been feeling pressed," said Baxter.

"There's no solution out of the air for this, but only a meticulous approach can pull us through.

"We want to win the league and the cup for our fans, but I wouldn't say we have to. That will make the expectations weigh heavily on our shoulders. I would rather it be a push, not a burden."