Mamelodi Sundowns coach Miguel Cardoso has revealed what he expects to come across in Tunisia when his side take on Esperance in the CAF Champions League quarterfinal second leg.
Sundowns celebrated a 1-0 victory over North Africans in a match that was played at Loftus Versfeld Stadium on Tuesday.
Unfortunately, the match concluded with violence as Esperance fans reportedly initiated clashes in the stands by throwing objects at the home supporters moments after the final whistle.
Having been the coach of the Esperance side that knocked Sundowns out of the competition last year, Cardoso now finds himself on the opposite side, aiming to guide the Tshwane giants to success.
As he prepares to return to Tunisia, the Portuguese coach is confident that his past connection with Esperance supporters will mean he won't face a hostile reception.
CARDOSO – ‘I DON’T EXPECT TO BE BOOED’
“I don't expect to be booed when I arrive there. I know how I came out from Esperance. I know the relationship I have with the fans,” said Cardoso.
“But anyway, I always take boos or whistles as fear. So, I respect the people a lot, but I am just on the other side. I was telling you before the match that started.
“The fact that we are on different sides does not make us enemies. It just makes us exactly what we are; playing from the other side. I hope I can keep my emotions the right way, so that all the time I have big respect for the opponent. They are just friends, colleagues who are trying to do the same job.
“There, Champions League matches have a different ambiance to the normal championship (league), because the rules CAF induces in the matches are obviously important to be respected.
“It means the ambiance in the stadium becomes more positive and less aggressive rather than the ones you have in the national championship in Tunisia.
“When Esperance played Club Africain, I wanted to go home and leave my club because it was pure fight. We were in the warm-up and everybody entered the pitch. It was stopped four times.
“There were people falling on the space around the pitch. And then everybody was taken out. We played the game without people in the stands. That spirit is because of the rivalry they have between Esperance and Club Africain. I don't expect that.”
