InterviewCardoso on style of play, favorites tag for CAFCL clashPhoto: Mamelodi Sundowns head coach Miguel CardosoMamelodi Sundowns head coach Miguel Cardoso has defended his team's style of play and ...
Interview
Cardoso on style of play, favorites tag for CAFCL clash
Photo: Mamelodi Sundowns head coach Miguel Cardoso
Mamelodi Sundowns head coach Miguel Cardoso has defended his team's style of play and downplayed the favorites tag ahead of their CAF Champions League clash against Remo Stars.
Despite currently topping the Betway Premiership table with a game in hand over second-placed Sekhukhune United, Downs have had a sluggish start to the 2025/26 campaign as they have already conceded two domestic titles.
This sparked frustrations among the Masandawana faithful, with a section of the fanbase suggesting the uncharacteristic start is down to the perceived pragmatic approach by the Portuguese mentor.
However, Cardoso believes otherwise, highlighting the Brazilian's exploits in the previous season where they smashed the PSL record for most goals scored in a single campaign.
“Regarding being pragmatic or not, I think that also, probably the people that speak about that know the performances that this team has had recently and how last season finished - outplaying all records in South African football,” he asserted.
Ahead of the first leg of their second preliminary round clash against the Nigerian champions at M.K.O Abiola International Stadium, the 53-year-old tactician played down the favorites tag for the tie.
“If we want to play Champions League again, we need to be very strong to beat this team of Remo Stars. If we come here and think that the stats, the past or the fact that last season we were the finalists and we will play something inside the four lines - we are making a big mistake,” Cardoso added.
"And I don't go along with this kind of attitude, we came here to play the first of the two matches. Obviously, both of them will be difficult, playing in different conditions. We know what this team is capable of. We know for sure there's a dream in the head of every player from Remo Stars and everybody at the club.
"But we need to be loyal to ourselves, we need to give our best, we need to be serious and we obviously need to be very focused in what we need to do and if we want to play Champions League we have to be very serious in the way we go through these two matches.
Category: General Sports