Orlando Pirates coach Jose Riveiro does not feel his team’s loss to Sekhukhune United will affect how they perform in the Soweto Derby.
Pirates suffered a 1-0 home defeat to Sekhukhune on Wednesday evening, which put a dent in their PSL title hopes as they find themselves 12 points behind leaders Mamelodi Sundowns, having played two games less.
That was the second straight defeat for Riveiro’s team, having been eliminated from the CAF Champions League semi-final, following a 3-2 loss to Egyptian side Pyramids last Friday.
Riveiro feels ‘zero’ Soweto Derby pressure
It is not the best preparation Riveiro would have needed with his team set for back-to-back Soweto Derbies with the first on Saturday May 3, when they visit bitter rivals Kaizer Chiefs in the league, before taking on Nasreddine Nabi’s team in the Nedbank Cup final seven days later.
However, when asked if the two losses add pressure to him and his team to now win the derby, Riveiro was categorical.
“I think you are too dramatic, we just lost one game,” Riveiro told SuperSport TV after Wednesday’s game.
“We have to recover in a couple of days. We have a derby on Saturday, we have to be ready. There is no other way.”
What gives Pirates coach confidence?
The Spanish tactician is still keeping hope alive that the league title is within reach even though they need to win their two games in hand and hope that Sundowns drop six points for them to close in.
“If I am confident? Imagine if I say no. I have to be confident of course. I think these players, this team, the whole season gives everybody reasons to be confident,” he added regarding his team’s title chances.
“The fact that we lost one game today is not going to make us not feel proud of what we are doing together and this team and for sure on Saturday they will be back.”
Pirates are in second place on the PSL table with 46 points from 21 matches while Sundowns have 58, having played 23, as Sekhukhune occupy third place with 44 points from 25 matches.
