Cardoso Details How PSG Coach Influenced Sundowns’ League Glory
Mamelodi Sundowns coach Miguel Cardoso has revealed how renowned Paris-Saint Germain (PSG) manager Luis Enrique shaped the Brazilians’ push for the Betway Premiership title amidst a fixture congestion.
The Portuguese tactician secured Masandawana’s 15th championship in the PSL era and a record-extending eighth successive league title with a game to spare. The Tshwane giants will wrap up their domestic season with a visit from Magesi FC at Loftus Versfeld Stadium on Sunday (17:30).
In the wake of maintaining Downs’ supremacy in the South African topflight, Cardoso shed light on how he took a leaf out of the ex-Barcelona mentor’s book on how to maneuver congested schedules and apply in-game training sessions during the run-in.
“I was listening to the coach of Paris-Saint Germain, Luis Enrique, and he said most teams, when they have hectic schedules, they work more, and they do it otherwise, and we also did it otherwise,” the 52-year-old gaffer explained.
“I know that some of you [media] joked a little bit when I said we were preparing matches in 20 minutes, but it was true because our concern is that if you are playing the way we want, you can use the games as a training session and go from there.
“Of course, when you are playing badly, they [games] give you nothing but the way we commit ourselves to playing good, the way we want it, the way we developed the team by playing was also the best training session we could do.”
The former Esperance de Tunis boss went on to state that he also picked up on the importance of allowing players to freely express themselves to embrace the responsibility on their shoulders – a strategy he credits Enrique for as well.
“So, from there we just needed to highlight the tactical plans, the strategic approach on the matches, recover the players, give them freedom, release their heads, make them feel happy when they come home, that is our Chloorkop training ground,” Cardoso added.
“And that is what we are going to do until the moment we go to the FIFA Club World Cup, because indeed, Luis Enrique is right. We also think it’s the right way to give [players] freedom, with the level of responsibility that we have inside our locker room, it is the best thing you can do for these boys.
“So, we trust the players, just because they are sitting on the bench or at home, doesn’t mean we don’t trust them. We trust the group, a wonderful group of players that the club has, and it gives me a wonderful pleasure to work with them.”
While the Spanish tactician will be determined to deliver a first-ever UEFA Champions League title to the French giants, Cardoso will also be eager to return the CAF Champions League title to Chloorkop, with the club’s last and only triumph dating back to 2016 under Pitso Mosimane.
Pic courtesy of Inja Ka MoyaSnaps
