CAFCL: Cardoso reveals how Sundowns will put Al Ahly under pressure
- Dennis Kegengo
- 3 days ago
- 2 min read
Photo Credit - Mamelodi Sundowns Media.
Mamelodi Sundowns head coach Miguel Cardoso has outlined their game plan when they take on Al Ahly of Egypt in the first leg semi-final contest of the CAF Champions League at Loftus Versfeld Stadium on Saturday.
According to Cardoso, the Brazilians will strive to deny the North African giants a chance to score insisting not conceding will be a huge boost for his side ahead of the return leg in Cairo after a fortnight.
“Let's see how the opponent will approach the game, teams like the ones competing in this moment are teams that understand how to relate to the different moments of the game, so I believe the game will have different moments,” said Cardoso as quoted by SABC Sports.
“Obviously playing home and away being an advantage or disadvantage is relative – because it also has a lot to do with the result from the first leg. If we can get a positive result without conceding, for example, that puts pressure on them because at any moment, a goal from us in the [away] leg can be very difficult to cope with, especially if we also scored at home.
“That's what happened in the Esperance match, we knew that despite not scoring in the second leg, we knew that any goal from us would make things drastic and almost impossible for them to cope with, even with the emotions that comes into play.”
Cardoso continued: “But it's an open world of situations that happen inside the pitch, there's also emotions that can sometimes, when it's the wrong ones, affect the game, and the good ones keep us in the right line.
“So there are many things we can't control that happen, but I believe the teams that express themselves best and the players excel are those that, on the base of what we do, also add something extra on the pitch, so that's what I hope to have from my players. I hope they can bring their best version on the pitch that can also add a lot to what I as a coach can give to them.”
Sundowns are chasing for a second Champions League trophy, having won it in 2016 under Pisto Mosimane.