CAFCL: Orlando Pirates must be at best version against Pyramids – Riveiro

Photo Credit - Orlando Pirates Media.

Orlando Pirates coach Jose Riveiro has challenged his side to produce their best game of the season when they take on Pyramids in the first leg semi-final clash of CAF Champions League at FNB Stadium on Saturday.

The Buccaneers qualified for the last four of the competition following a 1-0 aggregate win over MC Alger of Algeria. Having won the first leg 1-0 away, Pirates returned home to secure a 0-0 draw and a ticket to the semis.

“It is the most difficult team we haven't played yet and are about to play this season, from my point of view – the fact they're leading the domestic league and doing well in the cup competitions as well, with a brilliant Champions League this season, says a lot about them,” said Riveiro as quoted by SABC Sports.

“But after all, having analysed them and knowing a little bit more about the way they play football, and the complexity it requires to stop them tomorrow, I can tell you they're not like in the semi-final – like us, Al Ahly and Mamelodi Sundowns – by chance.

“We're here because we were doing things very well all the way through the competition and they're a difficult team to control in defence, with a lot of talent in their front four, their experience and they muster in the way they try and play football in possession.”

He continued: “So we know the importance of making sure that tomorrow we can be in our best version, otherwise any other version is not going to be enough – we accept the challenge and we're ready to go.

“We really want to test ourselves one more time in this moment of the competition, and let's see how good we can be on the day, and for sure it's going to be an equal game – it's a semi-final of the Champions League, so yeah.”

The return leg will be played on Friday at 30 June Stadium in Cairo, Egypt.