Orlando Pirates coach Josef Zinnbauer has pleaded with the club's supporters not get their hopes up this season but to rather look forward to the next.

The Buccaneers faithful were starting to dream about the possibility of a title push but those hopes were dashed after their loss in the Soweto Derby.

The team had a brilliant unbeaten league run under Zinnbauer.

In what was dubbed the German Derby, Pirates suffered a 0-1 loss to Kaizer Chiefs thanks to a Lebogang Manyama strike in the 30th minute. With 39 points, Bucs are now nine points behind Chiefs who are on 48.

"We had a good performance but we lost. It's not so easy because we felt we had a chance to win. We felt we could win," Zinnbauer said.

"It's important to get our heads up. We were 21 points behind Chiefs, now it's nine but the season is not finished now. We are not thinking about the title. We have a focus for next season. We have a lot of work to do.

"Next season we must have a good target. I don't know what that will be but we have a good squad."

The German boss was disappointed with the result and not his team's performance as he lost his first match since taking over in December.

"We created chances, we make build-up, counter attack and precision but we need a bit of time maybe. Now we will go to the players to give them their self-confidence back.

"Chiefs have a lot of experience. I have been here for about 10 weeks now and I am not a magician."

The Sea Robbers will look to bounce back in their next game against Golden Arrows away on Saturday.

Thereafter they have big consecutive matches against Mamelodi Sundowns and Bidvest Wits.

"The next game is now the most important thing. We want three points in the next game and then comes Sundowns and Wits.

"We will see what happens. We need the points. They need the points for the title and we need it for our improvement."