Orlando Pirates head coach Jose Riveiro says they are not using calculators and want to secure a place in the last 16 with a victory over CR Belouizdad tomorrow.
Pirates are one of only three unbeaten sides in the competition remaining after two wins and two draws in their opening four games in Group C.
A win over the Algerian giants who they triumphed over 2-1 in Algiers in the group stage opener would eliminate them and see Pirates progress, likely with reigning champions Al Ahly, to the knockout stage of Africa’s elite club competition.
“I wish I could know [their approach] but before the game, we navigate in a space full of speculations of different possibilities of the opponent,” he said.
“What I can say is they are capable of approaching the game in multiple ways, it’s a very versatile team, tactically really good players with good speed, whatever they do it’s in a very high tempo.
“But we’re more focused on ourselves than ever, we’re not using the match and calculators at this stage, we want to win the game, we’re playing home, and we know that these three points would take us to the space where we want to be [last-16], so that’s all we will try to be active from the first minute.
“We will be looking for the result we want, nothing else than a win, and then knowing and understanding during the game, there’s going to be multiple situations and adaptions. The team doing that during the 90 is going to be the winning team in the end.”
Riveiro says they are looking to finish off their impressive work in the competition in style before the final game against Al Ahly in Cairo.
“An important match goes without saying as we’re in the last games of the group stage, so it’s an important one for both teams and an opportunity for us to put the signature on a really good group stage performance so far,” Riveiro said.
“Hopefully by tomorrow, we can replicate a good [performance], enough for us to win the match and hopefully have the opportunity to continue forward in the competition but at the same time knowing that we’re going to face a really good team, in good form in the competition.
“We played them in Algeria and we know how good they are, how difficult it will be, so expecting a really exciting game but equal at the same time, but yeah, we’re prepared.”
The two sides meet at Orlando Stadium at 15h00 on Sunday afternoon.
