Cardoso says Champions League experience can drive Sundowns to MTN8 glory

Mamelodi Sundowns manager Miguel Cardoso believes the club’s CAF Champions League success has prepared them to handle the pressure of domestic competition as they pursue the MTN8 title.

Sundowns reached the final of the competition after beating Golden Arrows 3-2 in the semi-final second leg at King Zwelithini Stadium on Sunday. The result left the tie level at 3-3 on aggregate, but the Brazilians progressed on the away-goals rule.

They will face Orlando Pirates in the MTN8 final on 10 October.

Cardoso’s side won the CAF Champions League in May, and the Portuguese coach said that experience had helped them develop the resilience required to win high-pressure matches.

“Obviously, having players that have experienced context in different ways that are able to be motivated and have a strong will to do the things well helps a lot,” Cardoso told the media during the post-match conference.

The coach highlighted the importance of limiting goals at home in continental competition, while acknowledging that scoring three times against Golden Arrows was a significant achievement.

“Since we played in the CAF Champions League, we have grown used to this kind of context where it is very important not to suffer home goals, but we knew once we got the away goal that that would then put the pressure back on Arrows.

“It’s not easy to score three goals against Golden Arrows considering they did not concede a single goal before this match. They are a team who play with a lot of energy and defend with a lot of compromise and commitment. We had to build a positive attitude around this match after arriving here with a strong disadvantage.”

Sundowns must now quickly turn their attention back to the league, with Milford visiting Loftus Versfeld Stadium on Wednesday. They will then travel to King Zwelithini Stadium to meet Golden Arrows again on Sunday.

The fixture schedule has been affected by Sundowns’ involvement in international competitions, with the midweek match against Milford arranged after an earlier fixture was moved.

“This is our fate. Wednesday, we have a match that comes from a fixture that we had to change in order to play international competitions and Golden Arrows will rest throughout the week,” Cardoso said.

“But it’s also something that we have to manage. We are proud and happy to have those fixtures. It means we are fighting in a lot of tournaments and a lot of big things.”

Cardoso also praised midfielder Marcelo Allende, who has been named man of the match in each of Sundowns’ past two games. He hopes the Chilean can continue that form when the team host Milford.

The coach questioned why Allende had not yet been recognised as the best midfielder of the season in South Africa, particularly after Oswin Appollis, who plays as a winger, received that award.

“For me, it is surprising that he is performing consistently in SA for many years and still he has not received an award for the midfielder of the season, edpecially when we see a winger [Oswin Appollis] receiving that trophy.”