Mamelodi Sundowns coach Miguel Cardoso is not looking at doing things differently during his team’s clash with Orlando Pirates on Sunday.
The PSL’s top two sides meet again, just over three weeks since facing off, with Pirates hosting Sundowns at the FNB Stadium on Sunday, as both look for three points to help their ambitions to win the title.
Cardoso, whose team thrashed Pirates 4-1 in February, is not looking at changing his approach as he feels all he needs to do is study the opponents’ strength and weaknesses and give his players the right message and motivation.
What will Cardoso be looking at?
“We see this one as the next match to be played in the PSL. A match that we need to approach in a similar way that we have been doing in the previous ones,” Cardoso told the media on Thursday.
“Studying our opponents as much as possible, understanding how they can play, who they can line up, what characteristics they have been showing, what they can do that can eventually create some surprise so understanding all the environment of the game.
“The technical side of the question and obviously then try to pass to the players the details that are important for this match and work on the level of confidence to approach as what we have been doing in the past.”
Pirates have poor run against Downs
Sundowns have bossed Pirates in the league, going unbeaten against them in their last 10 PSL meetings, and will be looking to continue that fine run at the FNB Stadium on Sunday.
The Buccaneers have, however, been a thorn in the flesh for Sundowns in cup games, beating them in the MTN8 and Nedbank Cup finals last season to win the two trophies and will draw confidence from those performances.
Sundowns come into Sunday’s match with a healthy 18-point lead over Pirates, having taken their tally to 58 points following their 2-0 victory over AmaZulu on Tuesday, but they have played four games more.
Pirates have a tough job on their hands but can start clawing back with a win on Sunday, to reduce the gap to 15 points, which could go down to just three if they win all their four games in hand.
