Orlando Pirates coach ‘Micho’: This was a hard lesson

by Graeme Jackson

Thursday Feb 01, 2018. 11:00

Orlando Pirates coach Milutin Sredojevic says his side learned a “very hard humble pie lesson” in their 3-0 loss against Ajax Cape Town on Wednesday night.

The Buccaneers came into their match in the Mother City on a run of claiming 10 points from a possible 12 since the turn of the year, but they were given a hiding by the relegation-threatened Urban Warriors.

The result saw Pirates drop to fourth place on the log and ‘Micho’ admits his side still has a lot to learn.

“Football is game that gives everyone chances. Against the run of play we conceded that corner kick that pushed us to come out. We conceded the second goal on a counter-attack. We were working not to concede this way,” he told SuperSport TV.

“In the second half we regrouped but we couldn’t get the answers against a reinforced defence - in a modern way they call it ‘parking the bus’.

“In the end we finished with only one defender, one midfielder and six strikers but it still didn’t go our way. When you risk like this you’re vulnerable to them coming through the centre - which is how they scored that goal [third goal].

“When the team is growing is the same as a child learning to walk, you walk, some steps you’re slipping but then you become stronger and stronger.

“I’m happy that every player gave his best but not happy because we were playing for results and not for the beauty contest of us dominating totally. We need to learn, it’s a very hard humble pie lesson.”

Pirates will return to action with a home clash against Maritzburg United on Saturday night.