Having swept all cups in front of him since taking the reins at Orlando Pirates, Jose Riveiro has responded to whether he deems his side as favourites for the Carling Knockout Cup.
The Spanish coach joined the Buccaneers in June last year before the start of the 2022/23 season. In less than five months, he won his first trophy in SA, hoisting MTN8 after defeating AmaZulu 1-0 in the final.
After failing to catch Mamelodi Sundowns in the DStv Premiership, Riveiro consoled the Buccaneers’ faithful by winning them the Nedbank Cup. It was his second trophy in his first campaign with the Soweto giants, beating Sekhukhune United 2-1 in the final.
To prove that the aforementioned triumphs were not flukes, he recently led his side to MTN8’s successful defence. They beat the Brazilians this past weekend on penalties in the final.
Carling Knockout was launched on Tuesday and Pirates were pitted against Cape Town Spurs in the round of 16.
Riveiro welcomes the “cup favourites” tag for the Carling Knockout. However, he says it doesn’t change how his side will approach the matches.
JOSE RIVEIRO SAYS PIRATES ACCEPTS CARLING CUP ‘FAVOURITES’ TAG
“If you asked me I would say that as usual, we are Orlando Pirates, if you guys want to see us as favourites and everybody else, we accept it,” Riveiro told the media.
“It doesn’t change our approach to the game because we always go with the mentality and intention to win the games. This competition is not exceptional.
“But like I said it’s a knockout game, it’s 90 minutes and everybody has the same probabilities.”
Riveiro added they look to continue having the same desire that they have shown in the previous cup competitions they won.
RIVEIRO SAYS EVERY TEAM HAS A CHANCE TO WIN THE CUP
“Game by game, competition by competition, we start a new one, everybody has the same probabilities,” added Riveiro.
“It’s about the application, concentration, the one who wants it more that’s going to make it. We want to be that team again.
“But again game by game, we start with Cape Town Spurs. It’s not about what others are thinking about us or who is hunting who.”
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