Mamelodi Sundowns head coach Miguel Cardoso says Lucas Suarez made a mistake but did his job well against Kaizer Chiefs and Esperance Sportive de Tunis this week.
The 30-year-old defender joined Sundowns on loan in January for the remainder of the season from CA Tallares and has come under mixed reviews since coming into the team.
While he’s notably improved the pace of their build-up from defence and tempo of their overall game, he’s often been erratic with some misplaced passes in recent weeks.
Against Chiefs he gifted Wandile Duba the ball in an attempt to pass the ball to Teboho Mokoena, and Duba went on to state after full-time that they specifically targeted the Argentine.
“Yes we knew. Our target was him Lucas Suarez. We knew he makes a lot of mistakes. We knew that if we forced him to play inside he’ll pass us the ball,” Duba said after the game to SABC Sport.
But Cardoso said he was not prepared to address whether it’s a concern that opponents have now pointed this out going into the business end of the 2025/26 season.
“Look, I don’t see the things like that,” the Sundowns coach said at the post match presser.
“We come from a high-level match on Wednesday where Lucas made a wonderful performance. As you know, he was lined up on the team of CAF Champions League of the week.
“So I think it’s not fair. Even today, he made one mistake, but he made a normal game. He coped with the speed, tell me, a shot on the goal coming from a play that was his structure from shifts.
“I don’t remember any, but maybe you do. I just ask you to be fair with the people, with the players, with myself, with the team, with the squad and the club. Analyze the things as they are, it’s your job to do it. Just pick the results, look how it came from, and don’t punish a player that doesn’t deserve.
“Obviously, he has already on his shoulder enough weight to carry that he doesn’t need to receive from you, because the boy is doing his job and trying to make his best as everybody.”
Sundowns now turn their attention to their CAF Champions League semi-final first leg against Al Ahly next Friday at Loftus Versfeld.
