Orlando Pirates coach Abdeslam Ouaddou has highlighted the most impressive aspect of his team’s performances in the early stages of the season.
The Buccaneers currently sit at the top of the Betway Premiership standings with 13 points from their opening five matches.
They have also booked their place in the MTN8 final for the fifth consecutive year, where they will face Mamelodi Sundowns on 10 October.
Ouaddou was speaking after Pirates cruised to a 4-0 victory over league newcomers Kruger United at Mbombela Stadium on Wednesday.
The French tactician says he has been particularly impressed by the team’s defensive solidity, even though he believes they have yet to reach their full potential as a collective.
“Look, we had a really tough game, we expected this fighting spirit from that team [Kruger],” said Ouaddou.
“I think we did manage in the first half to respond to the aggressivity that they have imposed on us in the duels, in the air. We didn’t manage to progress like we want.
“I think we were not ready, to be honest, we were not ready in the first half. We were surprised about the fighting spirit about that team.
“I think the positive point in the second half is maybe we slightly answered about this aggressiveness by the transitions. We were defending very well. We had a compact block.
“I think if we have to have something positive, it’s how we defend and how we are able to answer to this kind of games.
“We had a couple of transitions that we managed to score. So we have to analyse the game quickly and maybe to improve for the next game because we need to have more control.
“We need to definitely have more control. If I have to keep something positive, it’s how we defend. Congratulations to the boys, to the team block, the effort inside the team block and, of course, the four goals.
“Four goals are very important for the goal differences. We didn’t concede a goal. And there are some games like that.
“Of course, the boys wanted to play better. We wanted to play better. But in terms of beautiful football today, I cannot say that we had a beautiful game. But sometimes it’s like that. It’s football.”