Jose Riveiro: Our performances are 4-0 performances, but...

The Buccaneers were bundled out of the league cup following a 5-4 penalty shootout defeat to struggling Richards Bay at Moses Mabhida Stadium on Saturday. 

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This was Riveiro’s first elimination from a domestic knockout competition since his arrival in South Africa in June last year, having won all three cup trophies on offer, and the Spaniard was left to rue their wastefulness.

"We're creating more than ever. I'm sure you're used to taking the data after the games – our numbers right now are ridiculous," said Riveiro.

"It's difficult to explain how we finish games with zero or one goal, but I don't believe in luck. I'm not a person that, as you know, tries to add more drama to the drama by saying we're very unlucky.

"We're not unlucky, we're getting what we deserve because this is a game based on putting the ball in the net and we are missing that part of the game, and it's in our hands to persist and continue to make things change... soon!"

Pirates failed to win their last three matches in the DStv Premiership before yesterday’s defeat, including a midweek loss to Cape Town Spurs. 

Though they dominated ball possession and had several chances against Richards Bay, Riveiro’s team has been struggling to create clear-cut chances.

"Like I've said before, our performance is a 4-0 performance, but I will repeat myself – I'm sorry, this is a scoring game. In the league of almost-goals, we are leading by far, nobody can catch us this season," he added.

"But in the scoring one, we are not, and this was one more opportunity to see it – in 120 minutes, we did everything but the ball is not going into the net.

"We had an excellent August early in the season, [where] everything we shot went through and we managed to win games, and now we are on the other side of the river."

The Buccaneers face Sekhukhune United in the league on Tuesday evening before the big Soweto Derby against Kaizer Chiefs at FNB Stadium on Saturday.

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