Pitso Mosimane has compared the struggles of his former club Mamelodi Sundowns to lift another CAF Champions League title to how Manchester City battled under Pep Guardiola until they eventually won the UEFA Champions League.
Mosimane was in charge when Sundowns won their first and only CAF Champions League trophy in 2016 and the club have tried to add their second star ever since.
Last season, many saw them as favourites for the title after their rousing 5-2 home win over record champions Al Ahly in the group stages, but Rulani Mokwena’s side were knocked out by Wydad Athletic Club on away goals – leaving the competition without a single defeat.
Mosimane seems confident his former club will eventually get it right, comparing their journey to Guardiola’s Man City before they lifted their first-ever UEFA Champions League title last season.
“They will get it right. Mamelodi Sundowns is exactly behaving like Manchester City with Pep Guardiola,” he said on AD Sports TV.
“How long did it take Pep Guardiola to win the Champions League? Five years, or six years.
“Keep coming semi-final, final, semi-final, final… So you have to be patient.
“The good thing about Mamelodi Sundowns is they were patient with me. I took two-and-a-half years to win the Champions League and I won it with Sundowns.
“Now the coaches at Mamelodi Sundowns, the coach and the assistant coach, were my assistant coaches. There is that mentality of the English culture, they kept them and they are winning the trophies and they are the best.
“For me, it’s Al Ahly, Wydad, Mamelodi Sundowns at this point in time and I’m happy to be wrong. I’m not saying Raja is not a good team, CR Belouizdad is not a good team, Esperance is not a good team – they have won the Champions League before. But let’s be honest they are not the same, let’s tell the truth.
“Raja was powerful before, now they are not yet there.
“So these three teams should be winning the Champions League. So Mamelodi Sundowns is behaving like Manchester City.
“I believe they will win it, but how do you win it when you have Al Ahly that has got so much experience, Al Ahly know how to win the Champions League.”
