PITSO Mosimane said yesterday that he was still fine-tuning what he believes will be a championship side in the domestic league and on the continent.
The Mamelodi Sundowns coach shrugged off the fact that he had collected one point from two winnable games before beating Moroka Swallows, ahead of hosting MTN8 finalists Orlando Pirates tomorrow night.
The Buccaneers marched to a fifth consecutive cup final at the weekend, and this is what has Mosimane on edge, although he backs his men to finally humble Pirates at Loftus (7.30pm kickoff).
The Brazilians were defeated there in February during a crucial stage of last season, but bounced back to claim the Absa Premiership title three months later.
The average start to this campaign - a draw against Maritzburg United, a loss to Ajax Cape Town and a win against Swallows - has seen Mosimane chop and change his lineup to try find the winning formula. Will he stick to the same combination against Pirates?
"I don't look at whether you scored in the last game or not. I look at whether the lineup will suit us for a particular game," Mosimane said. "We have enough players to use at any time and sometimes I am going to make changes and people will be asking themselves how I came to that decision and where is the consistency.
"I will change this team until it's settled. And you have to understand that I have players that have been brought in and I must justify why those players have been brought in. I must give them a chance to play and sometimes it is at the expense of the flow of the team."
Bucs coach Vladimir Vermezovic will almost certainly stick with the same starting 11, having made one change in the club's six league and cup matches so far this season.
Mosimane said it would make sense if Sundowns faced the same side that is buzzing from reaching yet another cup final.
"That formation has given them wins in the cup and I know why VV has stuck to that team - he has a record. They are scoring goals. They have just beaten Wits 5-1 [in the MTN8 on aggregate], and no one can argue that they are not a good team," he said.
"In the league I can say Pirates are not settled, with only two points from three games. Maybe I have an advantage."
Why Pitso is upbeat
PITSO Mosimane said yesterday that he was still fine-tuning what he believes will be a championship side in the domestic league and on the continent.
The Mamelodi Sundowns coach shrugged off the fact that he had collected one point from two winnable games before beating Moroka Swallows, ahead of hosting MTN8 finalists Orlando Pirates tomorrow night.
The Buccaneers marched to a fifth consecutive cup final at the weekend, and this is what has Mosimane on edge, although he backs his men to finally humble Pirates at Loftus (7.30pm kickoff).
The Brazilians were defeated there in February during a crucial stage of last season, but bounced back to claim the Absa Premiership title three months later.
The average start to this campaign - a draw against Maritzburg United, a loss to Ajax Cape Town and a win against Swallows - has seen Mosimane chop and change his lineup to try find the winning formula. Will he stick to the same combination against Pirates?
"I don't look at whether you scored in the last game or not. I look at whether the lineup will suit us for a particular game," Mosimane said. "We have enough players to use at any time and sometimes I am going to make changes and people will be asking themselves how I came to that decision and where is the consistency.
"I will change this team until it's settled. And you have to understand that I have players that have been brought in and I must justify why those players have been brought in. I must give them a chance to play and sometimes it is at the expense of the flow of the team."
Bucs coach Vladimir Vermezovic will almost certainly stick with the same starting 11, having made one change in the club's six league and cup matches so far this season.
Mosimane said it would make sense if Sundowns faced the same side that is buzzing from reaching yet another cup final.
"That formation has given them wins in the cup and I know why VV has stuck to that team - he has a record. They are scoring goals. They have just beaten Wits 5-1 [in the MTN8 on aggregate], and no one can argue that they are not a good team," he said.
"In the league I can say Pirates are not settled, with only two points from three games. Maybe I have an advantage."
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