Sundowns boss Cardoso demands maximum effort against Al Ahli

Mamelodi Sundowns manager Miguel Cardoso has challenged his players to reach their limits when they face Al Ahli of Saudi Arabia in the Fifa Intercontinental Cup on Saturday.

The African champions host their Asian counterparts at what is expected to be a packed Loftus, with kick-off at 3pm. Both sides are seeking to advance in the competition.

Speaking at the club’s Chloorkop base on Friday morning after the final preparations, Cardoso said Sundowns would be facing a match of international quality.

“Everybody understands that this match goes beyond the Fifa Club World Cup,” he said.

“This is not a democratic competition where you have a lot of teams playing. This is a high level where Sundowns have put their name and we should all be proud.”

Cardoso described the fixture as an important moment for South Africa and said Sundowns had earned their place on the stage as African champions.

“It is a moment for South Africa to be united and enjoy. The African champions have earned the right to be at this level, and as a club we are proud and privileged to play at this level,” he added.

“We don’t just want to participate but we want to compete on the highest level that we can. It is a good opportunity to push ourselves to the limit, and what we should expect will be according to the level that we put in our performance.”

Al Ahli have undergone significant changes since the previous edition of the competition. Matthias Jaissle, Riyad Mahrez and Franck Kessie have left, while Marino Pusic and other high-profile players have arrived.

“Al Ahli is a team that is a powerhouse, but budgets don’t play. As soon as the referee blows the whistle, what is going to speak for the result is the effort both teams are going to put [in],” Cardoso said.

He warned that Sundowns would need complete concentration against opponents capable of changing a match in a single moment.

“We need to be 100% focused; 99% will not be enough because these players can decide a game with one situation. We experienced that when we played Al Hilal during pre-season in Austria,” the Sundowns manager said.

“It was a match where we were good and we played well. I know people did not see that match, but we suffered two goals from counterattacks. We need to control everything that is going to happen on the pitch.”

Cardoso also called for resilience from his team and support from the stands throughout the contest.

“We need to be strong, resilient and the people on the stands to cheer us and bring extra energy so that we can be pushed to the limit throughout the match.”

The coach said Sundowns understood they were carrying wider responsibility than representing their club alone.

“We know that we are not just representing the club, but the continent. That is why we feel pushed forward to do well,” he said.

“People should be proud of the moment, but we must finish with the sensation that we are competing on the highest level.”

He added: “When you compete with teams like these on the highest level, the result can come anyway. We understand the strength that should be behind us and the responsibility that we have on our shoulders.”