Cape Town - Kaizer Chiefs coach Ernst Middendorp says he won't be highly critical of his players in the early days of his reign.

Middendorp was recently appointed to take over from Giovanni Solinas following a run of poor form for the Soweto giants.

The German is joined by former Chiefs striker Shaun Bartlett who will serve as his assistant. Both men have signed two-and-a-half year deals in what the club have described as long-term appointments.

Speaking to reporters, the 60-year-old said: "Now in the moment I think the team has this feeling of pressure in the past weeks and not really being successful.

"I think it's not a good piece of work and [I won't] jump in and hammer them. I need to put two or three elements in, not too much or to overload them, and I hope we can transfer it into the game.

"We are focused, absolutely. We need to show our abilities and be together in a proper way. We need to respect a SuperSport team with good results and a good position in the moment. We have to perform on a very high level and be successful."

The Glamour Boys are set to take on SuperSport United on Wednesday evening at Mbombela Stadium in an Absa Premiership clash.

Kick-off is at 19:30.