Ouaddou warns Pirates players they will win nothing if performances do not improve

Orlando Pirates coach Abdeslam Ouaddou has warned his players they risk ending the season without silverware despite their 3-0 victory over Milford FC in the Carling Knockout Cup.

The defending champions scored three first-half goals to beat Milford and secure their place in the quarter-finals on Tuesday, but Ouaddou was far from satisfied with his team’s performance.

The Moroccan coach criticised his players for selfishness, poor decision-making and a lack of control, insisting they must raise their standards if they are to compete for major honours this season.

“I think the only positive point is the win,” Ouaddou told SuperSport TV.

“I will only retain this victory because I was not happy about how we played. We didn’t have control. We had a lot of precipitation. We were selfish; a lot of players were selfish.

“Instead of giving the ball to a teammate who is in a good position to score, they shoot. There was a lot of wrong decision-making.”

Although Pirates scored three goals and kept a clean sheet, Ouaddou said the performance fell short of the level required to challenge for the Betway Premiership title and the CAF Champions League.

“The positive point is these three goals and a clean sheet, but to be honest, if we want to dream bigger, to win the Betway Premiership and the Champions League, I think if we continue like that, we are going to win nothing,” he added.

“I was not happy about the game. The positive point is that we go to the next stage, but there are a lot of players who need to really wake up.”

Ouaddou was particularly unhappy that Milford were able to enjoy periods of possession at Pirates’ home ground, arguing that such a situation was unacceptable for a club with their ambitions.

“When you are playing such games, and we are defending the title, you need to be ready from the first minute because you can see that a team like Milford can come here and have the possession,” he said.

Ouaddou acknowledged that fatigue could have affected his players, given their recent schedule, but pointed out that he had rotated the squad.

He insisted that representing a club of Pirates’ stature demanded greater commitment and a higher level of performance.

“Even if we played three days before, maybe we lacked freshness, but we rotated the team. And I think when we are playing for such a big club, Pirates, we need to wake up,” he said.

“I’m not here to nurse people.

“When we are playing for such a big brand, and when we are ambitious to play on the continent, we need to wake up. When we sign the contract for Pirates, we have to play at another level, to be honest.”

Pirates will now turn their attention to the Carling Knockout Cup quarter-finals, but Ouaddou’s comments underline his determination to see a significant improvement as the club pursues domestic and continental success.