Chiefs swept aside their Malagasy opponents Elgeco Plus in the first round of the competition after wrapping up the tie with a 3-0 victory away from home on Saturday to progress to the group stage play-off round.
While the 6-0 aggregate scoreline certainly suggests one-way traffic, Middendorp insisted it took plenty of effort to ensure they did not slip into complacency as he lauded the players’ reaction.
“It was not an easy game. It was basically the same as in the first leg. We had to strategise and manage the game. We are happy with the result,” reflected Middendorp on his club’s website.
“It was a great team effort. We showed the ability to change things around in the second half and I am happy about the achievement of progressing to the next round.
“We just have to soak this up now and then have some rest. We will take this win as a motivation in our preparation for the next game, which is at home against Mamelodi Sundowns on 5 January.”
A short recess will have The Glamour Boys return to action in the return leg of their season-opening clash against The Brazilians, with the German tactician having yet to taste defeat since his return to Naturena following Giovanni Solinas’s sacking earlier this month.
Middendorp also further explained Madagascan midfielder Adriamirado Andrianarimanana’s absence from the squad, which may have been due to his exile following his forced move to Chiefs from local side Fosa Juniors in August.
“I didn’t play ‘Dax’ Andrianarimanana, even though he comes from Madagascar, because I know, even in Europe, how players react when playing in their home countries. It was a team selection decision and nothing else,” he defended.