Cardoso Backs Suarez To Bounce Back
Mamelodi Sundowns coach Miguel Cardoso has defended Lucas Suarez after the January signing made costly errors, including the 2-1 loss to Kaizer Chiefs over the Brazilians in the Nedbank Cup semi-finals on Sunday.
Heading into the crunch last four clash, Nasreddine Nabi’s charges were less fancied, given their inconsistency and poor league form, but Amakhosi stood their own and claimed Sundowns’ scalp for the first time this season in what was the fourth meeting between the two sides.
Suarez made a blunder to gift Chiefs the equalizing goal, courtesy of Wandile Duba, who intelligently read the game to swiftly intercept the defender’s pass for a rare one-on-one opportunity with Ronwen Williams before slotting the ball home.
Now, the Downs mentor has defended the player, highlighting his contribution to the team, including at the highest level. Despite the mistake, the 52-year-old believes the center-back staged an impressive performance against the Soweto giants.
“I don’t see things like that [he’s a weakling], we come from a high-level match on Wednesday [against Esperance], where Lucas [Suarez] made a wonderful performance, as you know, he was lined up in the CAF Champions League team of the week,” said Cardoso.
“So, I think it’s not fair [to single him out], even today [Sunday] he made one mistake, but he played a normal game, he coped with the speed, he coped with the level. Tell me a shot at goal coming from a play that was structured by Chiefs – I don’t remember any, maybe you do.”
Cardoso says Suarez is not responsible for Sundowns’ elimination, refusing to make the Argentine a scapegoat for the results. Furthermore, the Portuguese tactician insists the on-loan defender is already under pressure and doesn’t need added pressure from the media.
“I just ask you to be fair with the people, the players, myself, with the club, and analyze the things as they are. It’s your [media] job to do, just pick the results, look at how it happened, and don’t punish the player that doesn’t deserve it,” he added.
“He already has enough weight that he has to carry on his shoulders, and he doesn’t need to receive it from you [media] because the boy is doing his job and trying to do his best as well as everybody.”
Suarez, who joined Sundowns from CA Talleres of Argentina in January 2025 on a loan deal that runs until December this year, has so far made 13 appearances across all competitions with one goal scored in the Betway Premiership.
