“More Mental Than Physical”: Cardoso

Mamelodi Sundowns coach Miguel Cardoso believes the team’s biggest challenge ahead of the CAF Champions League final second leg against AS FAR at Prince Moulay Abdellah Stadium on Sunday will be mental rather than physical.

Sundowns head into the decisive encounter holding a slender advantage after securing a 1-0 victory in the first leg at Loftus Versfeld Stadium last weekend.

However, they face a daunting task against an AS FAR side with a formidable home record, having lost only three of their 29 home matches in the competition since 2005.

Cardoso is now just 90 minutes away from guiding Sundowns to their first continental title since 2016. It would also hand the Brazilians their first piece of silverware this season after narrowly missing out on the Betway Premiership title to Orlando Pirates.

The Portuguese mentor admitted fatigue affected his side during the first leg but insisted the technical team has focused heavily on recovery and mental preparation ahead of the return fixture.

“I think the fact that we played seven matches in 21 days may have had some effect on our intensity in the first leg,” said Cardoso.

“Our biggest concern was making the most of the time we had between the first match and the one we are playing tomorrow [Sunday]. Our focus was on ensuring proper recovery for the players, giving them a little breathing room, while also maintaining some training intensity.

“We do not want the sessions to be too long, but they need to be intense enough to prepare for the demands of the match. I do not think fitness will be a problem because, at this stage, readiness is not only physical but also mental throughout the game, especially considering the pressure and expectations from the fans.”

“It is important that the players connect with the right emotions and mindset for a match like this. Having the correct mentality will guide us in the direction we want to go.

“The experience within the squad and the shared understanding of what this moment means should help us manage the game the way we want.”