Mamelodi Sundowns midfielder Rivaldo Coetzee has explained why he believes the so-called 'big games' are easier than coming up against the lesser resourced teams in the Premiership.
The Tshwane-based outfit are bulldozing their way to an eighth consecutive league title with 19 victories from 23 matches so far. They have suffered just three defeats, from TS Galaxy, Polokwane City, and Orlando Pirates respectively.
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Sundowns also suffered a shock defeat to newly-promoted Magesi FC in the final of the Carling Knockout.
Aside from Pirates, these results paint a telling image of the log leaders' struggles against so-called 'smaller teams'. Of note is that none of the teams above are considered title contenders.
This is a phenomenon explained by Coetzee in the latest episode of the The Pitchside Podcast.
"Big games I don't get nervous, there are no nerves," revealed the former Ajax Cape Town man.
"In the tunnel, get on the pitch, nothing.
"But you get teams like Polokwane, I'm telling you. You know it's going to be an effort [to beat them]. First of all, that's the thing, you have to match their effort.
"After that, then your football ability will come through. But you know they will make you run. You are going to suffer.
"Even though we are the better team in most games, but we won't dominate the whole game. There will be times when you have to suffer," explains Coetzee.
The cool-as-cucumber star says there are several players who have been at The Brazilians for a while, such that they they know how to win games when the going gets tough.
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"Sometimes it's not tiki-taka, no. If the match requires us to play in the channels, we do that. Fine, we play second balls, we press you and keep you in your own half.
"I think now we know how to manage them and that's why we are winning games."
Earlier this season, former Sundowns head coach Manqoba Mngqithi received criticism for suggesting title rivals Pirates tend to struggle against smaller sides, attributing this to lack of enough depth.