University of Pretoria head coach Tlisane Motaung says they will not change their style of play following their Nedbank Cup exit at the hands of Mamelodi Sundowns.
Sundowns got an early goal through Lucas Ribeiro Costa but AmaTuks got the equaliser through Delano Abrahams around the half-hour mark and the sides eventually went to extra-time and penalties, where the University side lost 4-3 on penalties.
"I'm super happy for the lads, I thought they stuck in, they became very disciplined, they applied tactical things that we worked on, things that we thought Sundowns would bring," Motaung told SuperSport TV.
READ | Sundowns need penalties to overcome AmaTuks
"Yes, in certain moments they broke the line, that's why our goalkeeper is the Man of the Match, he saved us a couple of times. I mean you're playing against one of the best teams on the continent.
"I'm proud of the lads, they fought. One can simply say congratulations to Mamelodi Sundowns, all the best going forward and for us is now really to focus on the main business, which is to compete in the league," he said.
Motaung also explained how they switched their tactics to go pound for pound with the Brazilians and said he hopes his side keep the same commitment in their remaining games of the season, as they chase automatic promotion to the DStv Premiership.
"Ja, look we didn't start well. I thought our guys they were panicking a little bit. I needed them to scan a little bit, look at their shoulders, because you are playing against a team that runs off the shoulders you need to be clever in terms of that," Motaung went on.
"So in my view we lacked that in the beginning but from there we rectified it and we began to really match them. Secondly, what we were doing wrong, Ronwen Williams is clever on the ball, so when you go and press him, there's a defender that moves the midfielder joining in.
"So second-half we changed and said allow him when they have the ball, pick your man, let's fight one for man and see how it goes. I'm super proud of the boys. We need to focus going forward, I hope they will display the same commitment into the few games of the league."
The direct style of play, using long balls and set-plays to create scoring chances is not popular in the country but Motaung says it only works out when they perfect it and they won't change it for anything.
"It's what we believe in. On the face value it looks easier but as you get into the field you feel it. It's very easy for someone to talk about it but we know what we're doing," Motaung carried on.
"We have to do it. Everybody knows how Sundowns plays and they keep on playing like that, they don't change much. So if we believe in something, we have to stick to it.
"We have to make players believe it and do it more often, repeat until the players understand so far they do understand, we're hoping that it will work for us in the remaining seven games of the league," he added.
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