Kaizer Chiefs head coach Nasreddine Nabi says there is no pressure on the team ahead of their Nedbank Cup semi-final against Mamelodi Sundowns.
The Soweto giants will be at Loftus Versfeld Stadium on Sunday evening to take on Sundowns, with the Nedbank Cup representing their final chance of claiming silverware this season.
Talking to journalists at the Nedbank Cup press conference, Nabi reiterated that Chiefs are still in the process of building the team but insists they will play to win on Sunday.
Read: Khanye: Chiefs Would Have A Chance If They Played AmaZulu, Not Downs
"Ending the season without a trophy. If we lose this game, I can answer that there is no pressure because every game we play, there is pressure. Like I have said, the first year we are here to build our team and when we get an opportunity while building, we try to play to win," Nabi said.
"We play to win every trophy because we are in a big team but there is no pressure inside. We are going through the process, which is why when we discussed with the board, we said we are in the process for two to three years to build our team. After these three years then we can be a team that can play for the African Cup, the league, and each competition to win.
"Now, we are in the process, but we have the opportunity to win this trophy so we will play to win it. If we win this trophy then it is amazing for us and will give us more confidence to play and for the board, the fans, the players, and us as the technical staff but if we don’t win this trophy we have to continue to work," said Nabi.
Chiefs' last major honour came in the 2014/15 season when they won the league title under Stuart Baxter.
“If we win this trophy, it is amazing for us and if we don’t then we have to continue to work. We have targets and step by step. For us to build our team, we need time and don’t need to start from zero if we lose this cup," he added.
"The only pressure is coming from the fans and I will try my best to make them better because the life here in South Africa is so expensive so that they can forget about the expensive life. With football, you forget all your problems. Pressure is when your salary is finished before you pay school fees. if you lose a game and you receive a salary, why should there be pressure?
Read: A Different Back Four For Nabi Against Downs?
"I don’t have pressure but I have respect for the club and the jersey and for that I’m honest with you. I don’t want to make promises and after that my account in the bank at Nedbank is low. The real pressure is societal because some people come in a small Toyota, nine of them, for 600km to support the team. For that, I realise the sacrifice of the fans and I’m sorry for the last result.
"I feel not comfortable if someone outside thinks I’m not honest with the team and the fans. That is the only thing that can make me a little bit angry because I’m honest with the team. Some teams play in the final of the Champions League and don’t have fans inside. We have a big family behind us in our fans. So, for this game, I’m not only thinking about myself. I also think about our fans, the club and for our players as it is a big opportunity to write a new history for the team."
