Pirates need to return to the 'normal direction', says Micho

Cape Town - Orlando Pirates coach Milutin 'Micho' Sredojevic says his players must forget about the last two results and only focus on their MTN8 quarter-final clash against Highlands Park on Saturday.

The Buccaneers go into the game against the Lions of North on the back of consecutive defeats having lost 1-0 to Zambian outfit Green Buffaloes in the first leg of the preliminary round of the CAF Champions League before being humbled 3-0 by SuperSport United in a league clash on Wednesday.

Sredojevic said Pirates owe it to their supporters to turn the team's fortunes around into a "normal direction".

The Pirates mentor told reporters: "Instead of licking the wounds of the last two matches, we have to focus on how to produce the performance and the result on Saturday.

"We need to out-work them football-wise. In terms of the wounds, we are healing with the match on Saturday.

"We owe ourselves, we owe our supporters - we need to return to the normal direction.

"Football is not the bush where you can hide. Everyone can see you, it’s very transparent.

"I do care about the jersey, the badge and the supporters. But we need to find an umbrella to help us pass this storm."

Sredojevic said he is expecting a tough physical encounter against Owen Da Gama's team at the Orlando Stadium.

"Highlands Park have the most specific physical approach in the PSL," Sredojevic said.

"We have played over 20 friendly matches over the last few years - they know us, and we know them.

"They are unpredictable, tricky, and it is a huge test of character and measurement of our values. I would like to say that we need to man-up."