Johannesburg - Orlando Pirates coach Augusto Palacios has downplayed his
side's poor form this season and has drawn parallels between them and Premier
League outfit Leicester City.
The Soweto giants have embarked on an eight-game winless streak in all competitions, which included a 1-0 loss to SuperSport United in the semi-final of the Telkom Knockout Cup and a 6-0 humiliation at the hands of Mamelodi Sundowns in a Premiership tie, which resulted in fan violence at the Loftus Versveld Stadium.
As a result, the interim coach has come under continuous
scrutiny from the Bucs faithful, however, the Peruvian who has lost five of his
eleven games in charge at the Mayfair based-outfit says winning remains his
aim.
"I am 22 years at the club and I have never wanted the
team to lose," Palacios told Goal.
"I always do my best for the club and I have won the
league with the first-team
"These things happen in football. Look at Leicester
City.
"They are the champions in England and are now fighting
relegation. Why is that?
"You just need to encourage your players because sometimes clubs have a good season and a bad one.
"We need to motivate the players before the new coach
comes so that the new coach must have a good welcome therefore it’s important
to win the last game," he concluded.
Pirates languish in tenth position on the table having collected 19 points from a possible 48 thus far this season, whilst City are in second spot on the table with 31 points from their 17 allotted games.