Orlando Pirates coach Jose Riveiro has revealed the weight of his team’s recent setbacks, saying the pain of losing the Nedbank Cup final to Kaizer Chiefs stings just as much as crashing out of the CAF Champions League semi-finals — and even their Betway Premiership defeat to Sekhukhune United.
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The Spanish tactician, still visibly emotional after the 2-1 defeat to their Soweto rivals on Saturday, offered a brutally honest account of how much every loss affects him and his players.
“Both, and against Sekhukhune,” Riveiro responded when asked which result hurt the most.
“Each and every game that we lose – if you ask me or the players – it feels the same. Every game is an opportunity to beat someone, and when you don’t, and you’re competitive, you don’t sleep.”
Chiefs ended their near decade-long trophy drought by edging the Buccaneers in Durban, thanks to goals from Gaston Sirino and Yusuf Maart. Despite being favourites heading into the tie, Pirates couldn’t convert their recent dominance into another piece of silverware.
Riveiro, though, refused to dwell on one particular result, instead placing all three recent defeats into one emotional bracket.
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“I understand today was a big game – it’s a cup final – but we go again. On Tuesday, we are tested again in the league. This is football. And losing a final like today is also a chance to understand just how difficult it is to win them.”
“This group played five finals in a row. That’s something exceptional. That’s something we have to give value to,” he said. “I can’t tell you which one is more painful. The pain is the same. Because your illusion, your motivation, your expectation, and how you imagine your day will end – it changes completely.”
Pirates have since announced that Riveiro will be leaving his position early. Follow the latest news on Riveiro's position on Soccer Laduma.
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