Mamelodi Sundowns head coach Miguel Cardoso says the 2025 FIFA Club World Cup has taught them they have to get better and have major room for improvement.
Sundowns exit the competition with four points, one behind Fluminense after the 0-0 draw while Borussia Dortmund won Group F with seven points from the three games.
While there was hardly a sombre mood from the players, who left everything on the pitch, in their own words in the mixed zone on Wednesday evening, the global adulation has brought pride to the club, and South Africa.
“I can’t speak for the whole season, but the eight months I have been in the club has been amazing, we won the league, like nobody won, with records, only maybe not goals conceded we didn’t break, that was the base of the objectives,” he said.
“We didn’t win the Champions League but we were back for the first time in the final in ten years, we will be strong going back there, those matches in the final, we were not at the level we needed to be.
“That’s why when we came here we were motivated to prove ourselves, with the style of play with the club, but football is like this – we knew this competition is risky. We played beautiful but come out with nothing, because the other teams are strong.
“We go from here with four points, the previous Club World Cup was two defeats, now it’s one win, one draw, one defeat, can we do more? It’s always possible to do more but we can sleep in peace tonight, we are proud of the players, the staff, everyone. Recognition achieved, in ten years we will understand what we did today.
“Let’s hope in ten years we look back and say we were weaker that time, we are much better, we have to be better, we have to grow. Our standards will increase, I will oblige to improve as long as I am in this club.”
Sundowns will now return to South Africa and bring an end to a gruelling 2024/25 season with over 50 games played.
