Ouaddou demands more from Pirates despite semi-final place

Abdeslam Ouaddou criticised Orlando Pirates’ performance despite their 3-0 victory over Milford FC sending them into the Carling Knockout Cup semi-finals.

The Buccaneers advanced against the top-flight debutants, but their coach said the result did not reflect the level expected from a club competing for honours in four competitions.

“It’s a game that could’ve finished with eight goals, so if you ask me, yes, I’m happy for the qualification,” Ouaddou said.

“But for the contents (of the match), for a big club like Pirates, we should be doing better.”

Pirates are challenging for the Betway Premiership, the Nedbank Cup, the Carling Knockout Cup and the CAF Champions League this season. Ouaddou said their ambitions meant a routine-looking victory was not enough if the performance failed to match them.

“For a club that’s looking to win the Champions League, the Betway Premiership, the Nedbank Cup and the Carling Knockout Cup, it’s not enough,” he added.

The coach was especially frustrated that Pirates failed to win enough individual battles, despite creating a number of chances to settle the last-16 tie more decisively.

“We were beaten in the duels, we created 24 chances but we scored three goals. Can I be satisfied? No,” Ouaddou said.

“So I think we need to wake up, we need to know that we’re playing for a big club. We’re not here to nurse people, Pirates is a giant in Africa.”

Milford remained competitive and created opportunities of their own, but Ouaddou believes Pirates must be more decisive against opponents they are expected to defeat. He acknowledged the quality of Milford and their technical team, while insisting that his side should establish a clearer gulf between the clubs.

“If we have to put eight past Milford, then we must show that we’re not on the same level,” he said.

“I respect Milford and their coach, but if you leave room for these teams to have hope, I don’t want people to leave the Arena and saying Pirates is just a name.”

The comments underline Ouaddou’s expectation that qualification alone will not satisfy a club with Pirates’ record and ambitions. He wants his players to turn the attacking opportunities they create into more authoritative performances as the campaign continues.

The victory keeps Orlando Pirates’ Carling Knockout Cup challenge alive, but Ouaddou made clear that the team must raise its standards if it is to compete successfully for the major prizes available this season.

The match included a number of demanding individual contests, including the duel between Sbangani Zulu of Orlando Pirates and Scelo Masilela of Milford FC.