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Cape Town - Mamelodi Sundowns coach Pitso Mosimane admits his side are struggling, but says it's too early to "press panic buttons".
The Brazilians were knocked out of the Telkom Knockout in the first round by Chippa United on Sunday, having lost their two league matches before that.
The African champions were also eliminated from the CAF Champions League at the quarter-final stage last month. Mosimane feels his side were not outplayed by Chippa, although he admits Sundowns looked blunt in attack.
"They were playing the pressing game. We didn't look like scoring, to be honest. You can't say we didn't play well. You can't say Chippa didn't allow us to play. We controlled the game, controlling the game doesn't mean winning the game, to be honest," he said.
The former Bafana Bafana tactician is adamant however that the Pretoria side have the quality and character to bounce back.
"We keep going. We don't give up, it's a good team. You must not forget where we're coming from. It's our time, we have to pay the price.
"We have to try harder. But to press panic buttons and say the team doesn't play well, I don't, maybe I like my team so much. I've been with this team for the past five years I know where it comes from and where it is now.
"We're going through the phase, it's a difficult phase. I have to raise my hand and lead the team and I'm not going to hide. You know me, I don't quit. It happens, I'm not the first one to go through this," he added.
Next up for Sundowns is a testing league match against a resurgent Orlando Pirates on Wednesday night.
