Mamelodi Sundowns coach Miguel Cardoso has dismissed insinuations that the club is favourite to emerge victorious, when it clashes with Kaizer Chiefs in a Betway Premiership match at the Lucas Moripe stadium in Atteridgeville on Saturday. Masandawana are on a high roll, and thrashed Amakhosi 4-0 the last time the teams met in the Carling Knockout last year November at the FNB Stadium.But Cardoso cautioned against the favourites tag.
“If I would take the point of favourite in this match, I would be basically, mentally trying to pass to my players the energy that they don’t need, I don’t accept that. There’s no favourites when the whistle start, should go there and show whatever you have to show. And in the end, that’s when you say you were favourites, not before, that doesn’t exist,” said Cardoso.
The Portuguese mentor said he’s aware about the rivalry between the two clubs and is hopeful that it’ll help bring out the best from the players. The league match was sold-out one week ago.
“I totally understand the rivalry, thank God that I’m used to these kinds of matches and excited for another one. They bring extra, not tension, but excitement.They bring extra concentration, delivery on the players too. But not extra pressure because it’s all about three points,” remarked Cardoso. He said he has much respect for his Amakhosi counterpart, Nasreddine Nabi, this despite the club struggling in the league. Cardoso noted that Chiefs has had a long break, and the club might have used the time to study Sundowns back-to-back matches.
“No, he will not change nothing on his general approach on the game. He’s not any kid that is coaching on football for the first time.I have respect for him, and he knows what he’s doing.He wants to develop his team, that’s what he wants because he’s also preparing the future of the club and the team. It’s a strong team on the other side like the ones we played before, different characteristics that we need to take care of,” highlighted Cardoso.
We need to analyse our contacts, which player plays best in better conditions, etc. The coach highlighted that such games bring out the best from the players and the clubs, but can however be a dull event, as both teams don’t want to lose. He again repeated his controversial statement, that he only needs 20 minutes to prepare for every game.
“Some of you joked a little bit that I was being pretentious that I’m preparing matches in 20 minutes.But yeah, today is the 20-minute training session because there are no chances to do more than that. So, 20 minutes of tactical work and the rest is obviously some warm-up and prepare the boys for the level they need to have in the session,” quipped Cardoso.
