2019 Telkom Knockout Quarterfinal Preview: “They never lost to Chiefs,” Augusto Palacios – Orlando Pirates Director of Football

“A Soweto Derby is always a 50/50 regardless of what is happening at the moment. Coaches only prepare the players for the game and it happens that a player, because the stadium is packed to capacity, wants to move away from the instructions and play his own thing. Unfortunately, there’s nothing a coach can do about that in that moment.

So, the experience between the two coaches will count very little, if at all, because the derby is about character, confidence, arrogance and the winning mentality. It is that simple. Rhulani may not have Ernst’s experience, but he was there with Micho and they never lost a game against Chiefs.

Rhulani must just stay confident, prepare his team well and the players must just deliver. They must convert the many chances that they create in every game. You just manage the players and hope that they stick to your plans without putting themselves under pressure. I coached both teams in the derby and I know what I’m talking about. Some players freeze because of the pressure and you have to manage that very well.”