Mamelodi Sundowns coach Miguel Cardoso opted against starting Argentine defender Lucas Suarez in the goalless draw against Al Ahly on Saturday.
The Argentine had made a costly mistake in the Nedbank Cup semi-final against Kaizer Chiefs, a game Masandawana lost 2-1 at the Loftus Versfeld Stadium. Mosa Lebusa started ahead of the center-back. Even when he was called up to warm up with other substitutes, a section of the crowd jeered him.
The Portuguese coach has now explained how he prepared the 30-year-old on-loan Tallares defender that he would not start in the first leg of the Caf Champions League semi-final against the defending champions
‘His disappointment was clear'
It was not difficult, I’m the coach, I must make decisions, and I should do them when I need to do them, but let me tell you, I told Lucas before the match, starting in the locker room, that today I trust him more than last week.
“It was not difficult, I’m the coach, I must make decisions, and I should do them when I need to do them, but let me tell you, I told Lucas before the match, starting in the locker room, that today I trust him more than last week,” he told the media.
“The day after the mistake, unfortunately giving a goal for Chiefs, he was head up and moving forward in the training sessions, he reacted, he had ten minutes in the game he was affected, it was clear, he couldn’t hide it. But then he also appeared in the game, he showed character. Argentinian guys in general, they have a lot of character hey, in the right way, so I believe he will stand up.
“Of course, myself as a coach I also need to protect him. Sometimes protecting a player is not allowing him to be exposed to the critics. But I will not allow anyone to kill him, for sure, believe me, he will naturally play again in the team, that will naturally happen,” the former Esperance coach continued.
Cardoso explains his squad management
“I just want you to remember, a week and a half ago we played in Tunisia and Mali Khoza entered the pitch in the final 20 minutes. On Saturday, he was not on the list and Mosa was playing then he had a knock on the head, against Golden Arrows, I don’t remember exactly. He had a two-week, three-week period where he couldn't touch the ball with the head, and he stepped out, another one came in,” the 52-year-old continued.
“That’s how we relate with moments, Tashreeq [Matthews] struggled during Ramadan, a player who is naturally thin, so he struggled more than the others. He recovered from that and played, so when I say I trust my players, I prove that I trust the players, since the first day I arrived here. What I need is for them to give me a yes, when we give them the opportunity.
“That will happen to Lucas naturally, and the other ones, pass trust and demand them to work. Nobody should be comfortable enough to believe they will play without working hard. We trust those who work hard, and in general, we have no problems with players who work hard,” Cardoso concluded.
The next Sundowns game will be on Friday against Al Ahly in the second leg of the Caf Champions League semi-final.
