Orlando Pirates head coach Jose Riveiro

Orlando Pirates coach Jose Riveiro does tactical work with his players at the Rand Stadium. Image: @OrlandoPirates / Twitter.

Riveiro: ‘We know where we want to go, we just need to continue’

Head coach Jose Riveiro is delighted with the way Orlando Pirates are progressing under his charge.

Orlando Pirates head coach Jose Riveiro

Orlando Pirates coach Jose Riveiro does tactical work with his players at the Rand Stadium. Image: @OrlandoPirates / Twitter.

Jose Riveiro is delighted with the way Orlando Pirates are progressing under his charge.

Riveiro has guided Pirates into a Cup final in his first season in charge and this team is showing signs of picking up the Spaniard’s vision for the team.

The Sea Robbers took control of the tie with Kermit Erasmus’ goal and then had the resilience to withstand a Sundowns onslaught before they added two late goals that put the contest to bed.

ALSO READ: Should Orlando Pirates’ first goal have been disallowed?

Orlando Pirates know where they are going

Riveiro acknowledged the fans in the Peter Mokaba Stadium and admitted that it means a lot to him to take the team to a final.

“Very happy, we were looking for our chance to play our first final together, we need to improve also, it’s the first time we played together these type of games,” Riveiro told SuperSport after the game.

“These type of exciting knockout games, there’s many things we could even do better in the second half but it’s an outstanding performance from the guys today.

“The way we commit in front of one idea, we do the same things in every game, today our accuracy in front of goal was super, that’s why we’re talking about a 3-0. Probably it’s a big result, so this is the way. We know where we want to go, we just need to continue.”

Riveiro
Kermit Erasmus of Orlando Pirates celebrates goal with teammates during the 2022 MTN8 Semifinals 2nd Leg match between Mamelodi Sundowns and Orlando Pirates at the Peter Mokaba Stadium, Polokwane on the 22 October 2022 Photo: Muzi Ntombela/BackpagePix

Jose Riveiro’s plan comes together

Riveiro admitted that the early goal allowed Pirates to play the game without the ball and forced Sundowns to do all the work.

“Very disciplined, that’s the way, nowadays in football if you really wanna really compete in different scenarios, you need to be competitive in the days you cannot handle the possession,” he said.

“In the days, today we’re facing an excellent opponent, they need a goal very early in the game, so it’s normal that they have the capacity to submit the opponent.

“Like I said before, we need also to improve and gain more time with the ball in these circumstances. But it will come with time. Like I said, it’s our first time together in these type of scenarios.

“With the possibility to play one final, there’s nothing (more) I can say about my players, nothing more than good things.”