Mamelodi Sundowns coach Miguel Cardoso has viciously responded to critics who insist he is too defensive in his tactics.
This comes after the Brazilians played to a 1-1 draw with Orlando Pirates in a Betway Premiership match at Loftus Versfeld on Saturday. After taking the lead through Peter Shalulile, Sundowns allowed the Buccaneers to reply via a spectacular strike by Cemran Damsin.
It was a goal which spiced up the afternoon, coming from a 20-year-old who coach Abdeslam Ouaddou surprisingly started on such a big occasion.
Masandawana’s failure to double their advantage or reclaim the lead later in the match brought back criticism that Cardoso is defensive in his play. But the Portuguese sought to put to bed that notion with a powerful punch back.
CARDOSO DEFENDS HIMSELF AFTER SUNDOWNS DRAW WITH PIRATES
“It’s interesting because you are looking the other way, not just one side and I agree with that. Of course, we wanted to win. If you were in my locker room at halftime, you will understand how much I pushed these guys to win this match because there is no other mentality in myself,” sad Cardoso.
“Despite people saying, you coach, you are defensive. That’s bullsh*t. So what I mean is, it’s not true, we wanted to bring that energy to win the match.
“At halftime I was very hard on my players in terms of mindset and attitude, because for this match we had an expression we used throughout the week.”
The former Celta Vigo tactician further explains how he placed emphasis on his players’ attitude to try and win the match.
“Nobody kills an attitude and at half-time I said, ‘Is that the attitude that no one is able to kill, the one we had in the first half after we suffered the goal?’” asked Cardoso.
“Because I was a little bit of ‘what is in your mind guys after you suffer 1-1? Do you want to be brave or do you want to feel fear? Because if you want to feel fear, you won’t play at the level, you have to play. If you want to be brave you can go for the match.’
“I think they were brave. They could not score again, but I think they were brave, they fought.”
RELATED STORY: Sundowns and Pirates share spoils in stalemate