CAFCL: Sundowns will not play for a draw against Esperance – Cardoso

Photo Credit - Mamelodi Sundowns Media.

Despite carrying a 1-0 advantage, Mamelodi Sundowns head coach Migel Cardoso has promised more goals when they face Esperance of Tunisia in the return leg of their Caf Champions League fixture on April 8.

The Brazilians secured 1-0 win over the Tunisian outfit courtesy of a Peter Shalulile side to put one leg in the semi-finals of the lucrative competition ahead of the return leg at Stade Olympique Hammadi Agrebi.

Cardoso has now remained cautious of playing to earn a draw insisting they could end up losing the game if they go with that mentality. ““If you go there and play for a draw, you will lose. Because this team will be different at home and they know that if they suffer a goal that will be tricky for them,” said Cardoso as quoted by Sowetan.

“We are also relaxed, I also know what to expect, but they also know what we can do. We are going to play to win, not to get a draw. Otherwise, we won't come back with a result.”

On their 1-0 win, Cardoso said: “A goalless draw at home will have been a positive result. A 1-0 is a positive result, but it doesn't mean anything. My job is to always push the players for performance,” he said.

“I have to push them for performance, but Champions League matches are for grown-ups, not kids and naive players. They also have to be worried about us because we can score there, we have been scoring everywhere.”

Last season, it was Esperance, who eliminated Sundowns at the semi-final stage.