Soccer
Neeskens unfazed by TKO tie
2012-11-16 09:48
Johannesburg - Johan Neeskens reckons his Mamelodi Sundowns side will approach
Saturday's Telkom Knockout tie at SuperSport United the same as all
their other games.
Downs travel to the Peter Mokaba Stadium over the weekend for their semi-final tussle with Tshwane rivals United.
The Brazilians have had an awful 2012/13 campaign thus far,
knocked out of the MTN8 while they also languish rock-bottom in the
Premiership table.
Disgruntled fans have been baying for Neeskens' head for the
Chloorkop outfit's shocking form and a qualification for the Ziwa Mo
final will go some way to easing the pressure on the Dutchman.
But the 61-year-old is surprisingly calm ahead of his team's must-win encounter against Matsatsantsa.
"There is nothing different from the other matches, we want to win every game we play," he told a press conference on Thursday.
"It is normal for a coach to aim to win everything you play for. There is always pressure in every game."
"You can only work hard and hope that it works out, there are no guarantees."
"We both have better records in Telkom than in the league. May the best team on the day win."
Meanwhile, Downs defender Abel Mabaso insists the club's league troubles won't distract them from Saturday's crunch clash.
"The mood is good in the team and we are preparing for the match on Saturday," he said.
"We can't dwell on our league form but have to focus on the upcoming match and aim to get to the final."