Mamelodi Sundowns coach Pitso Mosimane has dismissed claims that his side are in a state of decline after suffering three consecutive losses in all competitions.

Masandawana head into a league encounter against Orlando Pirates on the back of a dismal 1-0 loss against Chippa United in the Telkom Knockout last-16.

‘I am the leader, if I press panic buttons then the players will also lose it,’ Mosimane said in a press conference.

‘We have to keep calm. This is our reality. You are the head of the club and you’ve got to keep everybody calm. And you’ve got to look at the game. Are we playing well?

‘Yes, I think we are playing well. Are we dominating? Yes, all the time. We dominated in all the three games.

The former Bafana Bafana mentor cut a frustrated figure when talking about his side’s dominance in the three that they lost, in addition to saying that their elimination from the Caf Champions League could come as a blessing in disguise.

‘We must always score first because teams sit back against Sundowns. If you don’t score first, it puts you in another situation. I don’t press panic buttons because I look at what’s happening there (during the game) and I understand.

‘But if you don’t understand then you start asking yourself questions and saying ”why me or why this player?” We also don’t want to look at the referees when we lose.

‘Maybe it’s a good thing, as we need a little bit of a breather. We need a win to come out of this. And if we don’t get it, then it’s a dark cloud hanging there.

‘I don’t remember losing three games in a row in my entire career. Yah, it’s part of my growth and development also, and history inasmuch as there is another history.

‘You have to count that (fatigue), we have been playing non-stop for three seasons in a row. Sometimes people will say I am looking for excuses, but it is the reality.

‘You need a break sometimes. Maybe it is right for us (to be knocked out). That’s part of it. Every coach goes through this,’ he concluded.