Mamelodi Sundowns coach Pitso Mosimane says he doesn't have players he prefers over others and only rewards hard work.
Speaking to the media in a recent round-table discussion about his career as a football coach, winning four Premier League titles with the Brazilians and his plans for the upcoming season, Mosimane insisted he picked his team on merit.
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"I always say the best way for players to prove me wrong when they are not playing is to grab their chance when they get one," the coach explained.
"You can't have issues with players when you are a coach and the stakes are high. As a coach you always want to win. So why have issues with a player that can help you win games? Only small coaches have issues. If you prove me wrong, I will play you. If I have a player that can help me win games, I will play you."
Over the course of the 2018/19 season, in which Downs retained their Absa Premiership title, Toni Silva and George Lebese claimed they were overlooked by Mosimane prior to the transfers to other clubs in January.
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Mosimane did not want to address the duo directly, but rebuffed suggestions that he regarded other players highly than others.
"When you do well and score, you don't do it for me. It's your job. Should we applaud you for coming to work? I don't have favourites. I want to keep my job, so I must play the best players," he said.
