On Wednesday night, Cape Town City lost 3-0 to defending Betway Premiership champions Mamelodi Sundowns, and coach Eric Tinkler discusses his team's contrasting approach for that PSL game and the cup fixture coming up.
Despite the loss, Tinkler has said that losing to Sundowns doesn't ultimately determine your place in the league. Speaking to journalists during the Carling Knockout press conference at the PSL offices in Parktown, Johannesburg, Tinkler emphasized that there are other crucial games they need to win to finish in a good position in the PSL.
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"You don't have to beat Sundowns to do well in the league. That's not the yard stick of your performance in the league. You have to do well against teams like Royal AM, Magesi FC and get points from there. You know as a coach I stick to my goal. I stick to my principles. I believe in what I found, I believe the squad that I have put up, that it goes out there to compete. But on the night we were beaten by a better team. It is as simple as that," Tinkler said.
Meanwhile, Tinkler stated that they are now ready for their encounter against Richards Bay in the Carling Knockout quarter-finals.
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"We have to move on and redeem ourselves. We rested a number of players on Wednesday and we are going to Richards Bay with a lot more fresh legs. And the players are highly motivated to do better and win against Richards Bay. We want to fight and go all the way to try and win this trophy," Tinkler said.
Richards Bay host Cape Town City on Saturday at King Goodwill Zwelithini Stadium in Durban from 15:00.