Mamelodi Sundowns head coach Miguel Cardoso expressed his satisfaction with his team’s performance after they outclassed Orlando Pirates in a commanding 4-1 win at Loftus Versfeld on Saturday afternoon.
The victory saw the defending champions extend their dominant form in the Betway Premiership, securing their 14th win in 15 league matches so far this season.
With the triumph, Sundowns now sit comfortably at the top of the table with 42 points, nine clear of second-placed Pirates, reinforcing their status as the finest club in the league.
Cardoso praised the mentality and unity displayed by his players throughout the match. “A very difficult match, obviously we got a wonderful result that came from the work the players did, came from the strategy and the plan and from the mindset the players had during to win all the game,” the Portuguese tactician conceded after the game.
“We knew it would be tough, but we could make it beautiful, but we had to work hard, expecting the right moments to make our decision. These games are meant to be won.
Pirates are a team that can harm you, they have wonderful players in the front to cope with a game like this you must be very strong. The full plan was always our defensive plan. We didn’t want to play from the back, we just wanted to respect the moment we have the ball and try to have it as much as possible.
“But we knew we could use the spaces and why we would have to work hard, the plan today was to be a team and we were a very strong team today and due to that we won.”
The tactical discipline and cohesion demonstrated by Sundowns were evident, as they overwhelmed Pirates from the start, capitalizing on every opportunity. The victory was not only a testament to the quality of the individual players but also to the strong team ethos that Cardoso has emphasized since assuming his responsibilities at the Pretoria based outfit.
While the scoreline was a clear reflection of Sundowns’ dominance, Cardoso highlighted the importance of one of his key players, Lucas Ribeiro Costa. “Lucas is giving his share; Lucas is giving his share. We are trying to keep him excited about playing and happy, but we’re trying to make a team that can also please him and that he pleases the team,” the ex-Esperance manager stated.
“The values here are collective, he’s sharing the collective values, he is much better on defence also. He is a more collective player, I hope he can be prepared to feed us a lot, whatever the sky’s the limit for everybody here.”