Mamelodi Sundowns coach Miguel Cardoso has spoken about Lucas Suarez’s future at the club after dropping him from the starting line-up against Al Ahly in a CAF Champions League semi-final match.
Sundowns hosted the reigning African champions at the Loftus Stadium in Pretoria on Saturday afternoon in the first-leg of the semi-final.
Suarez, a regular in Sundowns’ defence, was dropped to the bench following his error that led to Kaizer Chiefs’ goal last weekend. Chiefs striker Wandile Duba capitalised on an error by Suarez, seizing the ball to score the equaliser in the Nedbank Cup semi-final.
This was the second time Suárez had cost the team a crucial match, following his mistake against Orlando Pirates in the Betway Premiership. His error allowed the Bucs to capitalise and ultimately win the game.
With mounting pressure, Cardoso chose not to start the Argentinian defender. Instead, the Portuguese mentor started Mosa Lebusa, a veteran left centre-back who has been sidelined recently. Sundowns were held to a goalless draw ahead of the second-leg, which takes place in Cairo next weekend.
WHAT CARDOSO SAID ABOUT SUAREZ’S FUTURE AT SUNDOWNS
The former Esperance coach explained why he chose not to start the left-footed centre back. “As I said at the press conference after the match. The way we relate to the players is with the highest respect for them,” Cardoso told SABC Sport.
“We need to understand every moment that happens and everything that happens. Eventually, if you were to play a match away, I don’t know if we would make a different decision. Today [Saturday], we decided to protect Lucas from whatever. It’s not that we don’t trust him. We do trust Lucas a lot.”
Cardoso believes the 30-year-old defender is “a player who can be very important in the future of this club”. “What you need to understand is whatever happens in each moment, how we want to relate to what happens. And, he’s with us. It means that we trust him,” he concluded.
Masandawana visit Ahly for the second-leg on Friday night at the Cairo International Stadium. They will hope to upset the 12-time African champions in front of their home support to secure a place in the final of the CAF Champions League for the first time since 2016.
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