Cardoso: No Regrets On The Substitutions
Mamelodi Sundowns coach Miguel Cardoso says he has no regrets with the substitutions he made against Pyramids FC in the first leg of the CAF Champions League final on Saturday, as his side surrendered a lead to settle for a draw.
The Brazilians took the lead in the 54th minute through talisman Lucas Ribeiro Costa, who slotted home from close range before Walid ElKarti broke Masandawana’s hearts with a crucial away goal at the death for a 1-1 stalemate.
In the wake of the result, the Portuguese mentor has been questioned over his substitutions when his charges were still in the lead in the closing stages, as he opted for offensive options such as Peter Shalulile and Neo Maema in the 78th minute before introducing Thapelo Morena in the 84th minute.
Those subs led Sundowns to drop the tempo, with the initiative swinging into the hands of Pyramids, with El Karti heading in the last minute after the ball eluded Sundowns’ defence.
However, Cardoso defended his choices, shrugging off the suggestions that he didn’t put any defender to protect the lead. The 52-year-old tactician highlighted that he called upon the speedy Morena in a bid to shut the backdoor.
“It was exactly that reason [to protect the lead] why we put an extra defender, maybe not a central defender, because we put Thapelo Morena, and he is also a defender. He was closing the line; he was the last man on the line. He was playing on the defensive line,” said Cardoso.
“Obviously, when we have the ball, players should go for the attack, and that’s what you [media] saw when you say that he was going forward, of course, he has to go forward.”
While many found fault and took issue with his changes, Cardoso has no regrets whatsoever with his substitutions, attributing the disappointing result to the mindset of the players and the manner in which they tried to defend the lead.
“No, it’s not a matter of regret, it’s really a matter of the mindset because as I said, to defend the result is to have the ball and play it and that’s how we should defend the result,” added the former Esperance de Tunis boss.
“I feel that the fact that we didn’t sharpen it in terms of the attitude, the capacity to play, and go from there was what penalized us. Anyway, it’s the last action of the game, it’s unbelievable, of course.”
The Tshwane giants will have to turn around the tie in Cairo on 1 June, with the Egyptians heading into the deciding match with a slender advantage via the away goal rule that has them on the cusp of lifting their first-ever Champions League trophy.
