Orlando Pirates captain Nkosinathi Sibisi has moved to clarify Abdeslam Ouaddou’s demands for greater ruthlessness in front of goal, insisting the coach’s message has been misunderstood.

The Pirates head coach has challenged his players to maintain their attacking intensity and take every opportunity to score, even when they have already established a comfortable advantage.

However, Sibisi believes Ouaddou’s comments should be understood as an indication of the high standards he expects from his squad rather than criticism of their performances.

The Buccaneers skipper explained that the Moroccan tactician wants his team to avoid becoming complacent when they are in control of matches and continue looking for opportunities to increase their advantage.

“I think sometimes the coach might be misinterpreted. It’s the standard he demands from everyone, to say, if the team is there for the taking, why not?” Sibisi said.

“I think that’s the type of message he was trying to convey. If you can score eight and not three, then we keep going and score as much as we can.”

For Sibisi, the players understand the expectations that come with representing Pirates and the direction Ouaddou wants to take the team.

The defender also highlighted the importance of balancing their attacking ambitions with defensive discipline, with the captain stressing that scoring more goals and keeping clean sheets remain equally important objectives.

“As a club, we understand what he’s trying to say and the demands he has. For us, it’s just to try and keep on improving, score those goals and keep as many clean sheets as we can,” he added.

Ouaddou has been vocal about his desire to see Pirates become more ruthless in the final third, particularly when opponents give them opportunities to extend their leads.

His approach reflects the standards he wants to establish at the club, where dominating matches should translate into a greater return in front of goal.

With the Soweto Derby against Kaizer Chiefs approaching, Pirates will be looking to turn that attacking philosophy into a decisive advantage against their biggest rivals.

Sibisi’s comments suggest there is no divide between the coach and his players over the demands being placed on the squad, with the captain insisting that the message has been understood inside the dressing room.