Abdeslam Ouaddou does not sugarcoat anything, not even a Soweto Derby win. The Orlando Pirates coach says brutal honesty is the reason his players follow him.

The Moroccan has built a reputation for saying exactly what he thinks about his team’s performances, whatever the result. After the 2-1 win over Kaizer Chiefs, he admitted his side was far from the standard he expects, particularly in the first half.

“Sometimes you have to be honest with your players. It is very important,” Ouaddou said.

“The trust in the eyes of the players, and the connection with their coach, and the honesty to say things, the guys can follow you.”

His honesty starts with himself. Ouaddou took responsibility for playing first-choice left-back Deon Hotto on the opposite flank, and for tactical errors that left Pirates exposed.

“In the first half, especially in the midfield and at fullback, we were late in the pressing.

“I don’t want to go deep into my philosophy to defend because I don’t want to give out (information) for the next game, but we were really late.”

Chiefs found space between the lines, rotated often and got behind the Pirates defence as a result.

OUaddoun then turned on his midfielders, without naming anyone.

“I will take responsibility for the (fullback), but I’ve seen some behaviour in the midfield that cannot match the way that I want to play football,” he said.

The warning was just as direct. “Everybody has to be committed to what we want to achieve.

“And I’m sorry if one or two players don’t want to come to the party to achieve the target, I will be direct with them. They know me.”

Pirates face Sekhukhune United in the Carling Knockout quarter-final at Orlando Stadium on Saturday at 3pm. Ouaddou will expect a reaction, and he will not hide it if he does not get one.

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