Mamelodi Sundowns head coach Miguel Cardoso has been left impressed by the technical quality of his squad since his arrival in South Africa.
Cardoso worked at high-profile clubs around the world before he venture into Africa with Esperance Sportive de Tunis last season – with Shakthar Donetsk, Nantes, Celta Vigo among the impressive teams listed on his CV.
With Sundowns arguably one of the most talented squad on the continent alongside Al Ahly, he admits, from what he’s seen from his group of players, they could play in LaLiga, in what he as a ‘very high level’ of football.
“I will tell you that we have players that could play in Europe,” he said when asked whether he feels any of his players have the technical ability to play for Celta Vigo.
“I think it’s the easiest way to answer. You just need to understand you spoke about Spain, Spain, the level is very high. Spain, the level is very, very, very, very high.
“So, but I believe we have players that could play in Europe. I believe that we have players that could play in Celta Vigo, as you stated, the team, I believe. But the level here is also very high and and the good that we have is that the ambition here is very high also, and that takes you to the next level, and should take you to the next level always.
“So the demand, the level of demand we put in ourselves, is so high that eventually, when you cope with that, you get better. And that is beautiful, because the players accept that, and they cope with that, and they live with that, and they express it.
“And that has been basically one of the biggest challenges and excitements about my job. I come to work every day with a big enthusiasm, because I know that I come to work with players that I will tell them, let’s try to do this. Let’s cope with this. And they want to try to do it, and they will work hard to do it.
“And this is what allows you to progress, it’s what allows you to go further. But at the same time, we always need to balance the moments, not to make the players believe that they are more than the other ones, because we are not.”
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Cardoso, though, admitted that Sundowns always need to reach their possible best level because other teams always bring their A-game against his side.
“When we distract ourselves, we can be like any other team, because the teams here are very, very, very competitive,” he continued.
“It’s not the way they play. Because, if you will, ask me if I like how the teams play. I don’t like. In general, I don’t like but they compete very well. And this is honesty, this is acceptable. And I respect a lot the teams that compete very well.
“So when we go to play whatever match it is, respect the opponent, because they will compete hard. And yesterday, it was clear that they competed, even when it was 4-2 they fought until the last minute.
“And for the coach, you need always to be aware of that and not relax, so that the players don’t relax for sure. And so football here is interesting because of that, because teams are very honest in the way they want to show themselves and playing Sundowns also gives them extra energy, because then we see other matches, and the things are not exactly like that.
“So it’s sometimes very difficult to analyse the opponents, because we’re gonna, I will not refer but we analyse the team, a match between two teams, and then we show to the players some images, and I always have to tell them, but look how the other team is playing, it’s not how we play. So what you expect to happen. We need to make this effort sometimes.
“And of course, then go to try to see the games with the strongest teams, that’s also important, but very, very, very interesting to see how the teams are ambitious in the way they approach the games. And that is good, of course, that is very. Good for the development of football in South Africa, and the players.”
