Cardoso explains how Sundowns can reach latter stages of Champions League

Drawing on his experience as a CAF Champions League finalist with Esperance last season, Mamelodi Sundowns coach Miguel Cardoso has highlighted the crucial factors needed to reach the latter stages of the tournament.

Ironically, Cardoso, the man who guided Tunisian giants Esperance to victory over Sundowns in the CAF Champions League semi-finals the previous campaign, now seeks to lead his new team to continental glory.

However, before contemplating a deep run in the competition, Cardoso must first secure Sundowns’ place in the knockout stages.

A point in their final group stage match against AS FAR, who have already qualified for the quarterfinals from Group B, will suffice. But, a defeat and a victory for third-placed Raja Casablanca would eliminate Sundowns from the Champions League.

Cardoso’s troops will face AS FAR at Loftus Versfeld tonight [18:00]. The teams played to a 1-1 draw in the reverse fixture in Morocco last December.

While targeting a victory to secure the top spot in the group in front of their home fans, Cardoso understands the complexities of Champions League football.

Cardoso stated the importance of a multifaceted approach to reach the final or win the Champions League. He emphasised the need for teams to understand and adapt to the different phases of the game, prioritise strong defensive foundations to create more effective attacking opportunities, and exhibit comfort and composure both in possession and out of possession.

MAMELODI SUNDOWNS COACH MIGUEL CARDOSO CHARTS PATH TO CAF CHAMPIONS LEAGUE LATTER STAGES

“Big teams are not the imbalanced teams. Big teams are teams that grow from understanding the different moments that the game brings,” said Cardoso. “Big teams are the ones that defend well to attack better, attack well to defend better.

“So balanced teams know that at any moment at the Champions League level, the opponents can harm you anytime, so you need to understand what’s happening every moment.

“And when we deal with all these factors, we can become more robust, more capable; we won’t stress when we don’t have the ball, and we also won’t stress when we have the ball because some teams are distressed when they have the ball as they are not used to managing it. That’s not what happens here.”

However, Cardoso emphasised his desire to maintain Sundowns’ distinctive playing style, famously known as “Shoe Shine and Piano,” an entertaining and attacking brand of football. He acknowledged that while this aesthetic is important, achieving success in the Champions League often requires a pragmatic approach.

Cardoso recognises that there will be instances where teams need to dig deep and grind out results, even if it means sacrificing some of the stylistic elements of their usual play.

“But also, it’s important that when you need to play with very strong teams and win the Champions League, you must play with very strong teams. So there are moments when you will not have the ball. You also need to have a wonderful defensive organisation. That’s how you win matches at this level.”

CARDOSO: ‘DEFEND SMART, ATTACK BRILLIANTLY’ – SUNDOWNS MENTALITY SHIFT

The Sundownw tactician added: “If you want to go to the last stages of big competitions, that’s the mentality that you are truly trying to create in the team that when you don’t have the ball, don’t stress, you are defending, but also you’re looking for the ball. When you have the ball, you manage it to create the spaces or use the spaces to [dismantle] the opponents so they open up so that you have the spaces you need to attack.

“And if that is beautiful [football] or not, I don’t know. But one thing I know is that the approach is capable of taking teams to the end of the biggest competitions, and that’s what Sundowns are trying to do. We want to grow all together based on this identity that the club has, respecting that because I love it so much. But from there, build a strong team,” concluded Cardoso.

Sundowns’ last and only Champions League title came in 2016 under Pitso Mosimane, leaving them with a drought of continental success in recent years as they have consistently been eliminated in the knockout rounds.

Cardoso, the club’s new head coach, is determined to break this cycle and guide the reigning Betway Premiership champions back to the pinnacle of African club football.

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