Cardoso on Sundowns loss: Pressure was ‘bombs falling 500m from my house’
Following the disappointing defeat against Kaizer Chiefs in the Nedbank Cup semi-final clash, Mamelodi Sundowns coach Miguel Cardoso has downplayed the pressure he is facing.
In a post-match press conference, the Portuguese mentor said the weight of expectation at the club was nothing compared to the terrifying reality of living near a war zone.
The 2-1 loss to Chiefs, who have not won a trophy in a decade, saw Masandawana booted out of the Nedbank Cup. It means Sundowns have not won any silverware this season, having failed to clinch the MTN8 and the Carling Knockout Cup.
However, the Brazilians are still in the CAF Champions League semi-final where they face 12-time champions Al Ahly. They are also on the verge of securing their eighth consecutive domestic league title.
PRESSURE ON ME? – CARDOSO
Asked whether losing to Chiefs piled added pressure on him, he responded: “Pressure on me, with all due respect, was when the bombs were falling 500m on my house when I was in Donetsk in 2014. That was pressure.
“Pressure is if I would not have my family that loves me. Pressure was if I would not have a club that supports me and people that support me. I don’t live from pressure, from football. I am 52 years old. Sorry. It’s time that I live in peace. If there’s something I conquered for myself was a lot of peace because I don’t depend on whatever. I don’t depend on the judgment for whoever.
“I just depend on the belief I have in myself, and my people, in my players. I’ll do my best wherever I am until the last day. In the last day, whatever I need to, when, whenever it will be. I’ll go in peace. Because thank God for many years already I live in big peace with myself.”
Cardoso’s troops will look to quickly regroup as they face Ahly on Friday. They start off at home before visiting the Cairo giants a week later.
The former Esperance mentor reached the final of last year’s edition with the Tunisian side. He will be hoping to replicate that feat, this time with Masandawana.
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