Nasreddine Nabi warns against putting Kaizer Chiefs players under high demand ahead of the Nedbank Cup final against Orlando Pirates - 'If you reach the red line of pressure, the result is negative'

Kaizer Chiefs head coach Nasreddine Nabi has stressed the need not to apply more pressure on the players despite a poor run in the Premier Soccer League campaign.

Nabi is confident that his charges know what is expected of them and are ready to deliver, but warned that pressure on them will only lead to more negative results.

"Trust me when I say the players know about the responsibility and this chance. Trust me," Nabi told the media.

"I’m 100% convinced about that, but we don’t need to put excessive pressure on the players because if you reach the red line of pressure, the result is negative.

"You need to find the balance. But trust me, the players want this, particularly after losing the derby.

"The season has not been easy for them, but I have observed the desire, aggressiveness, and all this here at training. It is even going to be difficult to choose the team to start because all players want to give 200%," he added.

The Tunisian affirmed that Amakhosi want to win the Nedbank Cup, especially after losing the league derby to Orlando Pirates on Saturday.

"But trust me, we are going to this final with big morale. Sometimes in life, if you are in a comfortable zone to win, it sometimes provokes a negative response," the former FAR Rabat coach stated.

"Sometimes if you lose and you are smart, then you profile this situation for a big reaction. I trust my players, and we will go to Durban with big confidence and all the possibilities to win this cup," he concluded.

Indeed, Nabi and his players are under immense pressure, especially after losing the derby, which marked their 12th loss in the league.

It also meant that the Glamour Boys equalled an unwanted record of most defeats in the PSL era.

Going into the cup final, Amakhosi need to dust themselves off fast and reenergise, as they have to be on top of their game to avoid back-to-back losses to Pirates in a span of days.

With all that is at stake, Nabi must find a special way to motivate his players in order to deliver against the ambitious cup-defending champions.

The Nedbank Cup final on May 10 at the Moses Mabhida Stadium is the most important encounter for Chiefs, given that there is a trophy to fight for.

However, Pirates hope to defend the cup against an Amakhosi side that is fighting for the only available trophy in a season that has otherwise not gone according to their wishes.