Orlando Pirates coach Jose Riveiro has shared his thoughts on the playing surface at Loftus Versfeld Stadium, offering his perspective on the much-discussed pitch conditions after his troops were hammered 4-1 by Mamelodi Sundowns.
Despite refusing to blame the pitch conditions in Pretoria for the loss against Sundowns, coach Jose Riveiro admits it was not favourable to play for both teams.
The 4-1 loss to Sundowns in the top-of-the-table clash on Saturday left second-placed Pirates nine points behind the Betway Premiership leaders – Sundowns.
However, the quality of the pitch at Loftus was heavily criticised. Riveiro, who now trails Sundowns by nine points in the Betway Premiership, says he won’t blame the pitch conditions for the result.
JOSE RIVEIRO DOESN’T WANT TO BLAME PITCH CONDITIONS AT LOFTUS VERSFELD STADIUM
“Whatever I say about the pitch, it’s going to be the headlines on social media, and I don’t want to give you that chance to try to show you that I am justifying what happened on the field. It was the same field for Sundowns,” he said.
“Remember what I said before, I think they managed to find a way to win the game despite the circumstances that this game was played in.
“Now you have the job as journalists as you were here watching the game. But at the same time, I have to say that I am sure that Sundowns is not happy with the field,” he added.
HIGH-RISK PITCH NOT CONDUCIVE FOR AN ENTERTAINING FOOTBALL MATCH
“With the players that they have, the football that they want to play, this is not an advantage for Sundowns as well,” added the Spaniard.
“It’s a pity that this game must be played in this field because it’s not helping anybody. It’s not helping the game, the football, or the risk of injuries.
“Every single action there is a high risk of injuries for both teams. Not for a second you must take this comment like we lost this game because of the field. Not even close. But it’s true that the game was played in very difficult conditions for Sundowns and Pirates as well.”
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