Miguel Cardoso explained what he told his Mamelodi Sundowns troops at half-time before their comeback against Bundesliga side RB Leipzig.
Sundowns welcomed the German side at Lucas Moripe Stadium in a friendly match on Friday, starting the game slowly and seemed a bit uncomfortable.
Leipzig took the lead in the 22nd minute and went into the break leading. But Masandawana came out guns blazing and displayed carpet football, with on-form Brayan Leon jumping off the bench to score two goals before young talent Bennet Mokoena finished a magnificent team goal.
Cardoso, who guided Sundowns to their second CAF Champion League title, also explained that his players had more freedom in the second half as they started to play knowing that the game is not about the results. The Portuguese mentor highly praised his side performance.
“The first-half was very good in terms of compromise from the team, trying to be always organized and have the ball as best as possible,” Cardoso told SABC Sport.
“And then the excitement came at half-time, they were feeling so comfortable. I told them ‘guys, let’s keep the rhythm, let’s keep the dynamic, let’s keep the discipline and let’s enjoy the game and try to bring the game to our identity’.
“They released energy, they let it flow, sharing responsibility. We had a beautiful game with a lot of boys showing fantastic Bennet [Mokoena], Kutlwano [Lethlaku] as well [but] there’s no space to speak on individuals when you see such a beautiful match today.”