Cardoso Blames Player Fatigue For MTN8 Loss
Mamelodi Sundowns coach Miguel Cardoso has acknowledged that his players’ fatigue was a key factor in their MTN8 semifinal loss to Orlando Pirates.
At a post-match press conference, a moody-looking Cardoso explained that his players were “not in their races.” The match, played at Lucas Moripe Stadium on Saturday, saw Pirates win 4-1 on penalties after the game ended 2-2 on aggregate.
Cardoso questioned the media on the number of matches the two clubs had played. “Do you know how many matches Orlando Pirates has already played?” he asked, before going on to explain his team’s situation.
“The fact is that everyone expected that, because of the fact we didn’t line up some players on Wednesday, today we would be much stronger and that would be shown throughout the match,” he said. However, he emphasized that this was not the case. “In terms of the physical demand of the match, the answer to that is, we tried, my players—they tried.”
He attributed the team’s numerous mistakes and lack of fluidity to mental fatigue. “If you didn’t know that fatigue is not a physical tiredness, it is a brain being tired,” he stated. “Because of fatigue, we made much more mistakes. That is why you didn’t see the same fluidity in the game as usual, and it is clear why.”
The Impact of the FIFA Club World Cup
Cardoso pointed to the team’s pre-season schedule as a major contributor to their fatigue. Sundowns were involved in the FIFA Club World Cup, with their final game on 25 July.
At the same time, many other clubs in the PSL were just starting their pre-season preparations.
“During the pre-season, we played two matches and while we were playing in the World Cup, Pirates was rested,” Cardoso continued. “It means we are a little bit late compared to other teams, and we know that.”
He acknowledged that the team is not yet where it needs to be to play high-stakes matches. “We know that we are not in the place that we want to be, to play such matches,” he said. Despite the fatigue, he praised his players’ effort and intention to play their style of football.
“Everyone would like to see us win 3-0 against Pirates, and I would also like to play with more freedom, see players more agile, more quick, more reactive, unpredictable—but it is not like that,” he concluded. “What we saw on the pitch was the game on our part, and that was clear. We knew Pirates would be aggressive with their way of playing and their style of playing, it was very clear, not easy to control.”
