Benni McCarthy: Harambee Stars Coach Credits Jose Mourinho after Nervy Morocco Win
- Benni McCarthy has opened up on what informs his tactical solutions, especially when Harambee Stars go a man down
- Kenya has had two players sent off in back-to-back games, but held on to produce a draw vs Angola and an impressive win over Morocco
- McCarthy reiterated that he would rather finish with eleven players on the pitch, as a red card affects the prior game plan he had
Benni McCarthy has opened up on a part of his coaching philosophy as he continues to win Kenyan hearts with his style of football.
Source: UGC
The South African tactician has masterminded an unbeaten start to Harambee Stars' campaign at the 2024 African Nations Championships (CHAN).
Even more impressively, Kenya has gotten points from teams that no one gave them a chance against after the draw was done in January.
How Kenya got results with a man disadvantage
Harambee Stars have downed DR Congo and Morocco, who are the most successful nations in this competition. They have also held an impeccable Angolan side to a one-all draw.
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What has stood out is that Kenya has gotten four points in two games where they were forced to play for long periods with a man less.
Against Angola, Marvin Nabwire was sent off after just 20 minutes for the denial of a goalscoring opportunity, but Kenya stood firm to get the point.
Barely two days later, Chrispine Erambo also received his marching orders after a reckless challenge on a Moroccan player on the stroke of halftime.
Playing with one man less in any football game is already a tough task, and if you’re facing the group favourites, the challenge increases tenfold, but it is a challenge McCarthy successfully conquered.
While addressing journalists during the post-match press conference, the former Amazulu coach insisted that no coach ever trains his players to play with a man less.
"Unfortunately, when you go down to ten men on the stroke of half-time, it becomes difficult. You know, and then the quality of the players, the football that they can play goes out of the window because now you have to think more about defending than attacking."
Benni McCarthy speaks about Mourinho's influence
McCarthy then admitted that he was a good student of former Chelsea boss Jose Mourinho, who is famously known for 'parking the bus' to grind out results.
"We were so tactically organised that Morocco didn't know what to do with the ball. We were happy with that. I'm not sure if you remember I played under a certain coach, Jose Mourinho was the master of that. As a player playing in a team that plays with 10 men, I'm telling you, it is hell."
Source: Getty Images
"We were a team that played with 10 men instead of 11. So I've learned the trades and the tricks of working with Mourinho, and where you adjust, who do you sacrifice? It's not going to be pretty for the fans because they want to see attacking football. But then you think about, most importantly, protecting your goals. And if you are in the lead, you protect at all costs."
"We park the bus. No, not the bus. We park a train and then a bus. So yeah, that's what I learned playing under Jose. So I guess that comes in handy in these two situations that we had," said McCarthy.
Benni McCarthy under Jose Mourinho
The 47-year-old played for 'the Special One' at Porto, where they famously won the 2004 UEFA Champions League against all odds.
McCarthy made 58 appearances for the Portuguese manager, scoring 37 times and providing four assists in a highly successful spell as captured by Transfermarkt.
McCarthy moved to tears while mourning former teammate
McCarthy recently cried at a press conference while paying tribute to his former teammate Jorge Costa.
Costa, who was the captain of that Porto team under Mourinho, died of a heart attack at Porto's training centre, where he served as the director of professional football.
McCarthy fondly remembered his teammate as a leader and an older brother and regretted that he didn't get a chance to say goodbye.
Proofreading by Jackson Otukho, copy editor at TUKO.co.ke.
Source: TUKO.co.ke
