Miguel Cardoso Responds to Critics Ahead of Crucial Mamelodi Sundowns-Golden Arrows MTN8 Clash
- Mamelodi Sundowns coach Miguel Cardoso defended his side after their 1-0 first-leg loss to Golden Arrows in the MTN8 semi-final
- Sundowns bounced back with a 5-2 win over AmaZulu at Loftus Versfeld, with Teboho Mokoena returning from injury to score
- Cardoso now faces a must-win second leg at King Zwelithini Stadium on Sunday against a Golden Arrows side yet to concede this season
PAY ATTENTION: Mark Briefly News as a preferred source, and our content will appear higher in your Google feed!
Mamelodi Sundowns coach Miguel Cardoso has pushed back against criticism directed at the club following their 1-0 first-leg defeat to Golden Arrows in the MTN8 semi-final, insisting that outside noise will not destabilise his squad.
Speaking after Sundowns' emphatic 5-2 victory over AmaZulu at Loftus Versfeld on Wednesday, Cardoso drew on the club's CAF Champions League triumph to put the criticism in context. South Africa had waited a decade for that continental title, and the coach argued it deserved far greater acknowledgement.
"People around always try to create instability. They come from outside to try and create instability, but we know this business already and we manage it with peace," Cardoso said. "It's important that people respect the work that is being done in this club. This club has just won the Champions League that was not won in South Africa for 10 years but there's no respect for it because we lost one match."
Cardoso braced for Arrows test
The Sundowns coach was candid about the scale of the challenge awaiting his side in the second leg at King Zwelithini Stadium on Sunday. Golden Arrows have gone unbeaten across six matches in all competitions this season and have yet to concede a goal, making them a formidable obstacle for any side looking to advance.
PAY ATTENTION: You can now search for all your favourite news and topics on Briefly News.
"Let's see if we're strong enough to go to Arrows and get the result we need. It will happen, but let's see if we're capable enough because it is a good test at the moment," Cardoso said. "How many goals have they suffered until now? It's almost zero, they are doing well and they will test us."
Sundowns were knocked out of the MTN8 at the semi-final stage last season by Orlando Pirates, who went on to lift the trophy, and Cardoso will be eager to avoid a similar exit.
Mokoena's return a timely boost
Amid the pressure, Sundowns received a significant lift with the return of midfielder Teboho Mokoena, who had missed four matches through injury. He marked his comeback by scoring against AmaZulu.
Cardoso acknowledged that the absence of Mokoena, alongside the previously lost Jayden Adams, had disrupted the midfield balance that drove the club's success last season.
"When you have the best players available you become stronger, the coaches become stronger and the team also become stronger," he said. "When the pairing is broken and you don't have both players that gave stability last season, obviously any team will suffer. The best teams in the world struggle when these things happen."
PAY ATTENTION: Follow Briefly News on Twitter and never miss the hottest topics! Find us at @brieflyza!
Source: Briefly News
