Head coach Miguel Cardoso has sent a reminder to Mamelodi Sundowns fans, explaining how the team has remained strong while enduring difficulties.
Masandawana have experienced mixed results early in the season, with their performances fluctuating between six wins, four draws, and two losses across all competitions.
Cardoso, who has, at times, been criticised for the team’s lacklustre performances, feels the fans overlook the considerable successes the team has had since he took charge.
Cardoso challenged the Yellow Nation to “check the numbers,” asserting that his team broke records last season.
He proudly noted that he achieved what the club hadn’t in ten years, qualifying for the CAF Champions League final. He also added that he guided the team to impressive showings at the FIFA Club World Cup.
“I think sometimes, people speak too much because of the expectations they have, not because they relate with the reality,” said Cardoso after Sundowns’ 3-1 over Durban City.
“And it’s important that people really relate with the reality and reality is numbers. I invite everybody to go check the numbers of the team.
“Check the numbers of the team since we arrived here, check how many times, if there’s anyone who was dominant over Mamelodi Sundowns in-terms of capacity to create, control the game with the ball and have passes.
“Last year, this team made the fans as pleased as probably they have never been. We broke all records excluding the goal conceded, we missed that by one goal.
“After ten years, we took the club to the final of the CAF Champions League. The team went to the Club World Cup and probably South Africa saw the best football ever in the history of the country, but the fans are still not happy.
“It’s because they are very demanding and we will work hard to try and please them as much as possible.”
Cardoso also mentioned the team’s resilience through recent difficulties, likely referring to the loss of Lucas Ribeiro Costa and the temporary absences of Khuliso Mudau and Peter Shalulile.
“But the fans must understand the moments that the team has. Every moment is different from another one. We have passed difficult moments, but we are moving forward that have to do with a lot of instability that happened in the team.
“But because we are a very strong club with very strong commitments among people inside the club, we are moving forward and we will succeed.”
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