Orlando Pirates head coach Abdeslam Ouaddou says his side will show a different attacking approach when they host La Cure Waves in the second leg of their CAF Champions League first preliminary round tie on Saturday.
The Buccaneers were held to a goalless draw by the Mauritius champions at the Cote d’Or Sports Complex last weekend, leaving the tie finely poised ahead of the return leg.
Pirates travelled to Mauritius looking to take an advantage back to South Africa but were unable to find the breakthrough. Ouaddou, however, believes the match served an important purpose in giving opportunities to players within his squad.
“We went there to get a result, we had to score a goal, we didn’t but we kept our chance here at home to definitely go through to the next stage,” Ouaddou said.
“The first game was important to give opportunities to players, to keep players involved in the project. We play with 11 players but we win competitions, titles with a group, so it was important to give opportunities.
“The young players gave me satisfaction. If I need them I know they will be good, but tomorrow is another game, we will show attacking profiles.”
The former AS Vita head coach coach says Pirates have used the week to extensively analyse their first-leg shortcomings and believes supporters will see a different side at Orlando Stadium.
“We prepared well this week, reviewed the game many times with the players. The areas we felt we weren’t consistent, we will show another face of Orlando Pirates tomorrow,” he added.
‘Seven or eight experienced players gone’
Ouaddou is also conscious of the significant change in the experience levels within his squad, with several key players having departed the club over the past two seasons.
“We have a very young team and of course most of them are discovering the Champions League,” he explained.
“Compared to last season and two years ago, we have minimum, seven or eight experienced players gone.
“How to deal with the Champions League with more aggression, more impact, but we keep our principles and how we want to play, depending on the kind of pitch we play on, sometimes you need to take that into consideration, changing the way we want to play.
“Football, you can’t always propose one way to play, you must have answers to impact. We need to be more simple – to make less touches in the crowded areas, quicker decision making avoids this impact of [physical teams in the Champions League].”
With the aggregate score level at 0-0, Pirates know victory will secure their passage into the next round, while another scoreless draw would take the tie to a penalty shootout.