Orlando Pirates coach Jose Riveiro is not expecting too many changes in the style of play from Royal AM in their second meeting of the season. The Buccaneers were one-nil victors in a league game against the KwaZulu-Natal side just more than a week ago. The two sides will lock horns in the quarter-final of the MTN-8 Cup on Saturday.
Both sides have had a fair start to the league season. They both have secured three wins from six matches. But one of Pirates’ victories came against Royal AM just more than a week ago.
This weekend they face off again, but this time in a cup competition. Riveiro, who expressed his satisfaction with the performance of the team, does not expect anything different in the approach from the two teams. He says the only difference will be the scenario of a knock-out competition.
“Even though I’m sure we both learned certain things ourselves that we didn’t know before that game we know much more about Royal AM as they know much more about Pirates, so those details are going to play on Saturday. I don’t think there are going to be many differences in the way both teams are going to approach the game,” says Riveiro.
In the six league matches, the Soweto giants have only managed to find the back of the net on four occasions. But for now that is not a concern for the Spanish mentor. Riveiro is more focused on his team creating chances and was rather confident that the conversion rate will improve with time.
“I’m not so worried about the last pass to the net, it’s going to happen sooner or later hopefully soon because we are going to be relaxed and not suffer a heart attack in the last minute,” Riveiro explains.
The Bucs coach also gave his opinion on the South African league, describing it as being tough which also makes it attractive.
“Still very impressed with the level of the players and the squads, the technical level of the players that makes the games fast with high tempo. The uncertainty, every result is possible, I don’t see so far easy games to play,” Riveiro reiterates.
Going into the cup match, he wants his side to dominate possession and try to be as practical as possible on attack.
He expects a fast approach from his players and being competitive at every phase of the game.
