Cup elimination leaves bitter taste for Micho
Orlando Pirates coach Milutin Sredojevic admits that their elimination from the Telkom Knockout Cup has left a bitter taste in his mouth.
The Buccaneers were dumped out of the contest after a 4-2 penalty shootout loss to Polokwane City in the quarterfinal at the weekend.
Little could separate the sides after playing to a 2-2 draw in regulation time at Orlando Stadium. Sredojevic would have felt that his team would do better against rookie goalkeeper Harold Ndlovu in the shootout.
“There is a mixed taste inside of me. There is the pride that the players tried their best – creating but not converting. And there is a bitter taste that we have gone to the deepest possible details regarding open play,” Sredojevic said.
Micho insists the technical team had planned thoroughly for the eventuality of penalties.
“We have gone to the deepest possible detail regarding opponent players and which side they usually take penalties. We have exited out of our training looking at who are our best penalty takers. But in football you can plan but penalties are such a lottery ... that [it] is very hard to plan.”
After another wasteful showing in front of goal, the Serbian tactician will dedicate time in the Fifa break to improving Bucs’ sharpness.
“They create chances but then blood comes inside the head and this is a process we need to work really hard to build their confidence and relax in situations they are creating,” he said.