Mamelodi Sundowns coach Migule Cardoso has credited his team’s Champions League heroics on the trust that exists between all those connected to the club.
Sundowns made it to their first Champions League final since 2016, when they secured a last-minute 1-1 draw away to Al Ahly of Egypt in the semi-final second leg on Friday, having looked like they were getting eliminated.
The Brazilians had conceded a 24th minute goal from Taher Mohamed but Iqraam Rayner’s late attempt found its way via a 90th minute own goal scored by Yasser Ibrahim to give the South African side a massive advantage.
“Trust in the way we have been living this experience together, trust on the quality and game plan we had for the match, trust that even losing 1-0 we could score, trust that whatever happened in the past would never happen and a new history would happen and had to be written today and trust in the club and its supporters that gives us this condition to work hard and trust in our supporters at home,” Cardoso said on SABC after the match.
Downs coach surprised by Al Ahly’s approach
“I was surprised [by Al Ahly’s defensive approach] but I understand because if you think that in the last eight matches, now nine, Al Ahly never won against Mamelodi Sundowns. They understand that they would have to be careful.
“Also, it has to do with the fact that we are playing very tight matches and we have to take care of both teams because they knew suffering a goal could put everything falling down and we also knew scoring one would change,” he added.
“After we suffered from a mistake, we had to run and amend. We did a lot of changes in the second half in order to become more aggressive. We lost a little bit of creativity in the front and in the end, I thought we deserved [to go through] despite big respect for Al Ahly.”
Who does Cardoso want in the final?
Asked if he had preferred to play either Orlando Pirates or Egyptian side Pyramids in the final, Cardoso did not pick a favourite opponent, staying keen on winning the title, while he also expressed his pride at reaching a second straight Champions League final after making it with Tunisia giants Esperance last season.
“We don’t choose [opponents], finals are meant to be won. We need to play them to win, we just need to make that step,” he added.
“As a coach for me and my staff it is wonderful to make two Champions League finals two years in a row. It is fantastic for me as a coach. It gives me also the pleasure of the career and having to work in a club that allows me to reach this level of competition is fantastic.”
Sundowns will face Pyramids in the final after the big-spending Egyptian club came back from 2-1 to beat Orlando Pirates 3-2 in the second semi-final.
