Mamelodi Sundowns coach Manqoba Mngqithi admits they are relishing the prospect of rectifying what they did wrong against Orlando Pirates in the first leg MTN8 semi-final.
After the 0-0 draw in the first leg at Orlando Stadium, the much-talked-about topic was Sundowns not registering a single shot at goal.
While it was played down due to Pirates not capitalising on the chances they created to win the game, it created the platform for an intriguing tie this afternoon at the Peter Mokaba Stadium for a place in the final.
And this is something the Masadawana coaching staff and players are looking forward to as a real spectacle for South African football as two of the giants are likely to go toe-to-toe for the bragging rights and a chance to win the first trophy of the 2022/23 domestic season.
“I don’t want to lie to you, I like to play big matches, I hate these matches where you go into the match expecting to win,” he said ahead of the game.
“Those matches are where you get pleasantly surprised and humbled. But when you play a big match, the players are intrinsically motivated to play and you as a coach dig a little bit deeper, you try and understand what makes this team a big team as compared to other teams regarded as small.
“You dig deeper and become more meticulous in looking at exactly what’s happening that makes them have the respect that they have. You want to win as a coach, and the players want to win that match – but you also have a responsibility to strike a balance.
“The desire to win the match makes you over-anxious like in the previous match at Orlando, our team made some elementary mistakes, we were too anxious and trying too hard to make an impression.”
Mngqithi went on to laud the style of play and football Jose Riveiro has implemented at the club since his appointment in the off-season and feels that this provides them with one of their biggest challenges thus far in the season – which excites everyone involved.
“So the match against Pirates now, I believe they are playing good football and I don’t want to take that away from them, we are playing good football too and as someone who is a student of the game and likes good football, I want these matches.
“I don’t want that matches where the other team is sitting and not playing and only one team is playing, I want a contest and everyone wants to get the result; maybe by dominating the ball and pitch.
“And [in the first leg] Pirates did what they were supposed to do to win the match, they had more chances to win the match, that’s an inspiration to say what did we do wrong and we dig deeper and see how best we can improve in that aspect – but truth be told it’s a match you will all have interest in.”
The two sides will meet this afternoon in Polokwane at the New Peter Mokaba Stadium at 15h30.