Khalil Ben Youssef explains why he used six defenders against Marumo Gallants! | OneFootball

Assistant Nasreddine Nabi reveals his tactical cards.

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Under the spotlight for a bold tactical gamble, Kaizer Chiefs' assistant coach Khalil Ben Youssef has pulled back the curtain on his decision to field an astonishing six-man backline in Wednesday’s 1-1 stalemate with Marumo Gallants.

With head coach Nasreddine Nabi temporarily sidelined amid ongoing talks, Ben Youssef—working in tandem with Cedric Kaze—insisted that reinforcing the defense was essential to wrestle control of the Betway Premiership clash at a buzzing FNB Stadium in Soweto.

What did Ben Youssef say to the media?

Positioning an attacking trio of Khanyisa Mayo, Ashley Du Preez, and Gaston Sirino, the Chiefs’ setup was a calculated move to dictate the tempo, not merely a defensive fallback, according to assistant coach Khalil Ben Youssef. Outlining the tactical blueprint, he explained, “We played in a 3-4-3 today [Wednesday night] with a high block to press Gallants further up because this season they favor short passing, not so many long balls. We aimed to press them high and win the ball back, and I think we managed plenty of recoveries and created lots of scoring chances. It wasn’t a defensive mindset; I disagree with that interpretation.”

Despite the tactical justification, the draw prolongs a tough spell for Amakhosi—now three games without a win. Still, Ben Youssef stressed the importance of looking ahead, prioritizing performance over immediate results. He voiced his belief in the team’s trajectory, adding, “I know we haven’t won in the last three matches, but what matters most is how we play—not just the result—because when we perform well, victories will follow. All our players put in a great shift against Gallants; we were just unfortunate not to score and seal the win.”

With little time to dwell, the team’s attention now turns to a do-or-die CAF Confederation Cup showdown against Kabuscorp, where they must overturn a 1-0 deficit to keep their continental dreams alive.