Ajax Cape Town coach Muhsin Ertugral praised his players for their efforts after their 3-0 win over Orlando Pirates, and also explains how he outsmarted the Buccaneers.
Read: Zakri Brace Hands Ajax Victory Over Pirates
The Urban Warriors boosted their survival hopes with an impressive 3-0 win over the Soweto giants on Tuesday night.
“I am lost for words. My boys produced a marvellous fight tonight against Pirates,” Ertugral told SuperSport after the game.
“We knew we would have these difficulties of them pushing forward. It is not about having the ball, it is about being organised. It is about where and how we close the zones, and we knew we would have those punctures [counter-attacks] and we were waiting for that.
“The boys had an exceptional game.
“It was all about getting behind the defensive lines. I knew my boys could do it.
“The win gives us the confidence and the momentum going forward.”
The Ajax coach also showed his tactical awareness early on in the match when he substituted Tashreeq Morris on the half hour mark, and it made all the difference in the end according to him
“It was very clear that if we had stayed with the two midfielders Pirates would overrun us because they have a certain pattern that would have sucked us out and left us vulnerable at the back. So we needed to have three midfielders. It was a little bit early, but in the end the boys stood firm,” explained Ertugral.
