Orlando Pirates head coach Jose Riveiro has reflected on his side reaching the CAF Champions League semi-finals on Wednesday night.
The Buccaneers secured a 0-0 draw in the second leg against MC Alger, which was enough to seal their pot in the final four with a 1-0 win on aggregate.
Read: Bucs' CAF Opponents Revealed After Dispatching Alger
“Orlando Pirates was the better team during the two games so congratulations to the boys, club and our fans. This is a fantastic moment for all of us and we really have to enjoy the moment and there’s nothing that can change the fact that we’re in the semi-finals,” Riveiro told SABC Sport after the game.
“It’s a difficult team to play against, long balls one after the other. It doesn’t matter, you cannot press them, you cannot have possession in their half after pressing because they will kick the ball as soon as they see a little bit of opposition."
The Buccaneers spent most of the game defending on home soil, but the Spanish tactician was pleased with how the team, especially the back-five defended.
“They are good in the second action; they are strong good side so they have the capacity to at least for two or more times after the long ball.
“But I don’t think we suffered so much in those action. I think the game of our back-five -three was excellent Mbatha, Makhaula, in the second balls Rele,” Riveiro stated.
“The way Deon and Deano helped us to run away with the pressing in the first half. Was excellent. We play with a big heart; we play the way you have to play these types of games.
“It’s not about making the game beautiful; it cannot be. You need two teams to try play good football, if it’s only one it’s not possible.
“So, you know it’s going to be a battle, war and it was like that what we expected, we managed to resist and be resilient to get the result we wanted,” he concluded.
