sportskeeda
Mamelodi Sundowns’ head coach Miguel Cardoso has shared the reasoning behind his choice to bring off Kutlwano Letlhaku for Siphelele Mkhulise just before the second half began, a decision that turned out to be pivotal.
The ex-coach of Espérance Sportive de Tunis celebrated his first win with Sundowns, guiding them to a 1-0 victory over the Moroccan giants Raja at Loftus Stadium on Sunday.
Bafana Bafana striker Iqraam Rayners scored the only goal of the match, with an assist from a product of the Sundowns academy, marking a promising start for the African powerhouses in the CAF Champions League.
This win was the first for the Brazilians in the Champions League group stage after two earlier draws, which resulted in the departure of coach Manqoba Mngqithi.
“Raja arrived with a 4-4-2 formation, employing either a high press or a more laid-back method, but overall demonstrated strong buildup play,” remarked Cardoso.
“Typically, they would defend in a 4-1-4-1 formation, which aids their buildup play. Therefore, we needed to reorganize to create opportunities to take the lead.
“Thus, the substitution was not a reflection of Mkhulise’s performance; it was about introducing different players. Many of my substitutions are based on tactical evaluations to manage the game proficiently.”
With only three days to prepare since he joined Sundowns on Tuesday and began training Wednesday, Cardoso highlighted the importance of this victory considering the limited preparation time.
“This match has undoubtedly strengthened our belief,” Cardoso stated.
“By managing the game with diverse strategies and executing our plans effectively, we empower ourselves, reinforcing the confidence of everyone involved, especially the players, that we can achieve anything.
“From day one, I felt that commitment; I recognized it immediately, even after my study of the club. It solidifies my place within the group, but this is just the beginning; we have much more ahead.
“Therefore, I don’t excessively celebrate after a win. Recall that during the press conference on Friday, I stressed the significance of consistency over perfection if we want to achieve our objectives.
“Let’s aim for consistency, keeping in mind our approach, beliefs, and way of life. Today was an essential victory for us; now we need to recover and prepare for the next match, as this group is still wide open and demands our greatest effort.”
This match marked Sundowns’ final appearance in the 2024 Champions League. They will be back in action next year, taking on Raja again in Morocco for their first game.
