Cape Town City’s Muhsin Ertugral admitted Sekhukhune United were better in their Nedbank Cup round of 32 encounter on Monday night. | BackpagePix
In the wake of a disappointing 2-0 defeat to Sekhukhune United in the first round of the Nedbank Cup, Cape Town City coach Muhsin Ertugral remains confident that his team can secure a Top 8 finish in the Betway Premiership this season.
Speaking candidly after the match at the old Peter Mokaba Stadium, Ertugral graciously acknowledged the superiority of their opponents, while also identifying key areas for improvement within his squad.
Ertugral praised Sekhukhune United, saying, "It was a well-deserved victory for the opponents.
“They were much stronger in the duels. We were good on the tactical aspects and we had one or two chances through the break with one entry that could have been a goal.
“We knew their Achilles is their defensive structure, and we made three or four entries that we should have used better. But Sekhukhune were totally superior and (they got a) well-deserved victory.”
During the match, Ertugral had to make a significant change at half-time, substituting veteran goalkeeper Dareen Keet for debutant Ayanda Sithole due to the former’s health issues. Despite the challenging circumstances, Ertugral refrained from holding Sithole accountable for the team's loss.
“The goalkeeper was still in a bad situation this morning, but we took a gamble with him to have him start the match. But at half-time he was totally dizzy and sick. I wouldn’t say we lost because of Ayanda though.”
Reflecting on his team’s performance, Ertugral pinpointed their struggles, particularly during one-on-one situations.
“Our one-on-one is a bit of a challenge that we need to look into, and we got a little bit impatient in our play. We also wanted to play a little bit more, but the pressure was coming more to us.
“We tried to go forward with two 10s,” he explained, referring to the impactful performances of Sipho Mbule and Relenogile Mokouane, who played vital roles in controlling the midfield, “but it did not work because they managed to come with their quality in the centre.”
The seasoned coach emphasised the necessity of strengthening the team's capabilities in individual duels, admitting that his midfield did not perform as intended.
“From a playing perspective,” he explained, “our midfield is not how we want to play.
“The major concern is that we lose a lot of balls in the build-up, and we need to work on that. But I think the team is good for a top-eight finish. We can’t expect wonders from the youngsters.
“They did well against the big teams (Kaizer Chiefs and Orlando Pirates), but we need to get our away game a bit stabilised because that’s where the challenge is. Still, I think six victories will get us into the top eight,” he concluded.