Orlando Pirates head coach Jose Riveiro feels talks of changing up their formation isn’t relevant as they have a flexible tactical approach.
Pirates have now gone four games without a win across all competitions after the 1-1 draw against AmaZulu in their DStv Premiership clash at Orlando Stadium on Friday evening.
The result has left them three points behind league leaders and reigning champions Mamelodi Sundowns, who have two games in hand over the Buccaneers.
And despite the frustrations, the Spaniard has remained calm by stating that their recent results or lack thereof have not been dependent on what formation they have fielded on the day.
“We played with a back four last game against Richards Bay, I hope you noticed that the formations are flexible, we do modifications in every game, sometimes looking for something in our offensive phase, something in our defensive phase,” he said.
“We defended in a 4-3-3, I’m sure you noticed as well, set-ups is something that usually we check at the beginning of the game, in the papers that we get from the opponent and you get from us and our opponents but then the ball is in [motion].
“Football is a very abstract game, it’s very difficult, you have to understand the game to notice that.
“But the factor that it’s taking us sometimes the points, or the points we are missing, it’s not absolutely in relation with the decision to play with three at the back, two at the back or nobody at the back.”
The former Inter Turku head coach feels it’s luck deserting them at crucial periods of the game, citing losing goalkeeper Richard Ofori at a crucial stage of the game, as an example – which saw the momentum of the game change somewhat against Usuthu.
“There are some reasons that we can explain, that we can work on and there are other reasons we can’t even explain with football – I mean it’s a game where you need a percentage of luck in certain moments.
“Moments where the game can change in your favour, I think today we were lucky for example to score the equaliser just before half-time and then start the second half with a different scenario.
“We were unlucky to substitute our keeper and stop the momentum and stop the rhythm, so there are many situations and scenarios in the games that is not only about football, but we’re not going to waste our time trying to explain those situations, we just need to move on.”
The Soweto giants will now travel to KwaZulu Natal to face Golden Arrows on Tuesday in the league, before returning to Gauteng for the second leg MTN8 semi-final against Mamelodi Sundowns – with the score still 0-0 from the opening tie earlier this month.
0 Comments