Jose Riveiro says Orlando Pirates will improve next season

Orlando Pirates head coach Jose Riveiro believes his team will be an improved side next season.

The Buccaneers were hoping to challenge Mamelodi Sundowns for the DStv Premiership this season, but inconsistency has seen them 16 points behind Masandawana. Despite winning the MTN8 in October, Riveiro’s men never got going in the league. Pirates currently occupy third place with 40 points from 24 matches.

For many fans of the club, the season is seen as a failure, given how the Buccaneers started the season. During pre-season, Riveiro’s men were unbeaten, which saw them take on La Liga side Las Palmas in Spain. A failure to capture the Carling Knockout Cup also raised questions about Riveiro’s consistency at Orlando Pirates. In his first season, he bagged two trophies and finished second on the log.

The Spaniard says consistency will be key in their next games.

“We need to win week in and week out, we really need to do it the way we would like to do it and play the way would like to play the game and everything else is a consequence,” said Riveiro as per Citizen.

Orlando Pirates have collected 10 points from a possible 15 in their last five matches, but Riveiro wants more. He believes his team are on the right path and are getting closer to where he wants them to be.

“We don’t play for the result, the result is a consequence of doing things better than the opponents and recently we managed to do it in most minutes of the game and in most phases of the game and that’s why we’re getting the results.

Riveiro says there’s still room for improvement at Orlando Pirates

“We just want to do it our way, and right now, we’re getting closer to being the team we want to be in the next month, in the future, next season, but there’s still room for improvement, and we’re taking it game by game,” he added.

Buccaneers eyeing another cup double

Orlando Pirates still have the Nedbank Cup to play for, and Riveiro knows how important winning the trophy will be. The Bucs faithful will not be satisfied with just the MTN8 trophy given the quality of players the team has. The Sea Robbers take on Chippa United in the semi-final of the Nedbank Cup next weekend, and they are favourites to win.

Riveiro has yet to lose a final as Orlando Pirates coach, having won three trophies so far in two seasons. Should Pirates beat Chippa, the Soweto giants should be favourites to lift the trophy they won last season.