Mamelodi Sundowns head coach Miguel Cardoso says his squad’s ability to dominate all four moments of the game was the decisive factor in their 2-0 aggregate semi-final victory over Espérance de Tunis in the CAF Champions League.
Sundowns secured their place in the final after a commanding second-leg display at Loftus Versfeld on Saturday, backing up their 1-0 first-leg result in Tunis with a clean sheet at home.
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Speaking in his post-match press conference, Cardoso reflected on the tactical discipline and collective maturity that allowed Sundowns to overcome one of the continent’s most decorated clubs across two legs.
“I think that is exactly… the turnover that happened, in terms of approaching this team – to the highest level of football is understanding that the game has four moments, and as much as you are strict on all of them, is how strong you will be,” Cardoso said when asked by iDiski Times how out of possession tactics was crucial in their semi-final win.
The Portuguese coach explained that the squad’s evolution over recent seasons has been deliberately shaped around competing against African football’s elite.
“So, the development of this team was exactly towards the direction of understanding when you play teams like Ahly, when you play Esperance, the Moroccan teams, the best Algerian teams – you need to be strong in four moments of the game.
“And if you’re not developing the team in the capacity to play them all – there will be moments where things can fall for the other side… the match in Tunis was thin margins, but it didn’t fall for our side [by chance] it fell for us because of the commitment, the [tactical] positioning.
“The intensity and capacity to be together [was important] and understanding even when you don’t have the ball, you never forget where the goals are of the opponent, that’s the capacity of the biggest teams.”
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Cardoso was full of admiration for Espérance as an institution, but insisted that Sundowns’ identity and application left no room for sentiment.
“Esperance is… wow, big team, big crowd and big club. But just another big club, another big team with a lot of commitment can overcome the difficulties we had, but I think we played a wonderful [second leg], wonderful.
“On the direction we wanted to be, the team understood the commitment, they created the energy and what we can never forget as Sundowns is that we need to play with joy, we need to play with pleasure, with the capacity to understand the ball is what unites us, but our hearts should be open when we don’t have the ball and be committed to have it again.”
The second leg presented unique tactical challenges, with Espérance deploying an aggressive man-to-man marking scheme across the pitch – something Cardoso acknowledged pushed his side into unfamiliar territory.
“It was not easy to prepare this match against a physical side, who came to a man-to-man marking on almost the full pitch, brought us challenges we’re not used to facing but today [Saturday] we were even stronger in dealing with that.
“It was two high-level matches in terms of tactical approach and just high commitment and detailed management put us where we are. It’s not easy to beat Esperance two years in a row, in a quarter-final last year and semi-final this year.
“These stakes are so high, the emotions are so high, but we managed the game until the end, never forgetting the ball should be ours. And mentally, emotionally, we were on top – that is to do with mindset, a lot of work and for that I have to praise my players.
“They were amazing in opening their hearts for the strategies and never forgetting the club’s identity – who we represent, how we play the game and understanding these aspects can make a team capable to fight for the Champions League.”
Sundowns now advance to the CAF Champions League final, where they will bid for continental glory against Moroccan outfit ASFAR – who are unbeaten in the Botola Pro this season.
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