AmaZulu coach bullish despite final defeat to Pirates: 'I don't think they're better than us'

• Orlando Pirates beat AmaZulu in the 2022 MTN8 final at the Moses Mabhida Stadium on Saturday evening.
• AmaZulu head coach Romain Folz insists Orlando Pirates were not better than his side during the game.
• Usuthu have a chance to bounce back in the Carling Black Label Cup.

AmaZulu head coach Romain Folz believes Orlando Pirates are not better than his side, despite falling to a 1-0 defeat to the Buccaneers at the Moses Mabhida Stadium on Saturday evening in the MTN8 final. 

In what was a rather unspectacular final, AmaZulu were the more dominant side in terms of shots and possession. However, it was Pirates who emerged victorious courtesy of in-form winger Monnapule Saleng's spectacular first-half free kick that proved to be the difference between the two sides, giving Pirates their second MTN8 trophy in three years.

Despite being on the losing side, Folz feels Pirates were not much better than his side and insists that without the free-kick, they would not have found a way to score. 

"The only thing that gets me annoyed, if not for set-pieces, I don't think they score against us and that bothers me a little," Folz told reporters.  

"If you've been outplayed right and left and they score three goals, then they're better than you and I don't think that was the case.

"I'm not taking anything away from them, congratulations. You only play one final and it was their win. But honestly, I don't think they are better than us," stated a defiant Folz.

Despite the 32-year-old's frustration with the result, his Usuthu will have a chance to quickly make amends as they take on Mamelodi Sundowns in the Carling Black Label Cup. The match is scheduled to take place on 12 November, followed by the month-long FIFA break for the upcoming World Cup in Qatar.