Mamelodi Sundowns coach Miguel Cardoso has credited his players for stepping up and remaining focused despite the cloud hanging over the club following the suspension of analyst Mario Masha.
Cardoso praised his squad’s professionalism after their decisive CAF Champions League group-stage victory against MC Alger at Loftus Versfeld Stadium on Saturday, saying the players took responsibility and delivered when it mattered most.
The build-up to the clash had been dominated by reports suggesting that Masha, a long-serving member of the technical team since joining under Pitso Mosimane in 2015, had leaked confidential tactical information to Rulani Mokwena.
The analyst was subsequently suspended during the week, although Mokwena publicly denied on Friday that any Sundowns information had been shared ahead of the encounter.
Cardoso, however, refused to be drawn into the off-field drama and instead shifted the focus to his players’ mentality and collective strength after the Brazilians secured their passage to the quarterfinals by finishing second in Group C with eight points, while MC Alger bowed out in third place on seven.
“Look, I think that has to do with the quality of the players, and also the mindset of South African football players, because it has nothing to do with me,” Cardoso said.
“I’m a facilitator, and sometimes I just try to complicate nothing. Obviously, for the ones that paid attention, there were certain aspects of the tactical approach that we brought inside the pitch against our opponent.
“But I leave that to you to analyse because I don’t like to speak tactics at press conferences, some of the details can be exposed.
“But I think everything has to do with the boys because they wanted to carry each other, it says a lot.”
The Portuguese mentor emphasised that while tactical preparation remains important, emotional control and unity ultimately proved decisive on Saturday.
“I think what summarizes Saturday’s match is that there are things in football that you need to understand, of which you cannot win without tactics and strategies, but it’s emotions that usually make the difference,” Cardoso added.
“I think we were very, very strong and collective on managing the game and bringing the right emotions inside the pitch and also staying focused on the match.
“We knew that it was important to start well and also manage the game for 90 minutes.
“This was a match to win because we planned and prepared everything. I think that there was a lot of analysis on the pressure on our side, but sometimes the pressure of having to win is smaller than the pressure of not being able to lose.”
With their Champions League campaign now paused until the quarter-final draw midweek, attention quickly shifts to domestic matters for Sundowns, who face log leaders Orlando Pirates in a mouthwatering Betway Premiership top-of-the-table clash at FNB Stadium on Wednesday.
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