Bucs will test City coach’s know-how

Palacios says Pirates are a new side under Micho

Augusto Palacios has warned Cape Town City coach Benni McCarthy against thinking that he will simply get the better of Orlando Pirates just because he played for the Sea Robbers four years ago.

McCarthy will face his former team for the first time as a coach when City travel to the FNB Stadium tonight (7.30pm).

Palacios coached McCarthy during a brief stint when the Peruvian-born tactician replaced Julio Leal towards the end of the 2011-12 season.

The two enjoyed success together as the Buccaneers clinched the Absa Premiership title that season.

The former Pirates and Bafana Bafana striker suffered his first defeat in the 2-0 loss to the other Soweto giants Kaizer Chiefs last week after a five-match winning streak in all competitions to start his coaching career.

The Mother City club have a record of two wins and a loss in the league while Pirates have two wins and two draws.

“When results are not going his way he must show character. Never mind that he lost against Chiefs, how he responds is what counts. He must be strong,” Palacios, who runs his own academy, told Sowetan.

“It doesn’t mean he will beat Pirates just because he was a player there, no it doesn’t work like that. He must try to take a little from every coach he has worked under in his playing career.”

McCarthy some early has achieved success after leading Cape Town City to the MTN8 final where they will face SuperSport United at the Moses Mabhida Stadium on October 14.

After hitting his first blip following their loss to Chiefs, Palacios wants the 39-year-old rookie tactician to strive for perfection even when winning.

“He must check the strengths and weaknesses of the team and use that to his advantage.

“It’s important that he must identify mistakes in his team.”

Against the vastly experienced Buccaneers coach Milutin Srejedovic, City will have a tough evening if they are not at their best, said Palacios.