Cardoso Reflects On Emotional Win Over Espérance

Mamelodi Sundowns coach Miguel Cardoso was overcome with emotion on Saturday after guiding the club to its second consecutive CAF Champions League final, the first time in the club’s history.

Following their victory over Espérance de Tunis, Cardoso expressed his gratitude to club chairman Thlopie Motsepe and the entire technical staff.

Cardoso was appointed in December 2024 after the club parted ways with Manqoba Mngqithi following an unconvincing start to their Champions League campaign.

He arrived at Sundowns after being dismissed by Espérance the previous season, having led them to the 2023/24 Champions League final, where they lost to Al Ahly.

Cardoso made an immediate impact at Sundowns, steering the team to last season’s Champions League final, although they fell short against Pyramids. However, he did guide the club to the league title in dominant fashion—Sundowns’ eighth consecutive crown.

On Saturday, Sundowns secured a 1–0 win over Espérance thanks to a goal from Brayan León, who also scored in the first leg, sealing a 2–0 aggregate victory.

Despite the achievement, Cardoso was quick to deflect praise and instead thanked those who brought him to the club.

His tenure has not been without challenges, with some supporters questioning the team’s style of play. However, recent performances have shown greater efficiency, something Cardoso attributed to the players’ willingness to adapt to his demanding methods.

“When I say thank you very much, I must first extend my gratitude to the people who trusted and believed in me and brought me to this club,” said Cardoso.

“The chairman, the president, and Mr Flemming Berg [sporting director]—I will never forget when this journey started.

“This is also the moment to speak about the players. Coaches are important, but players are even more important because they go onto the pitch and make things happen.

“To them, a very big thank you. They welcomed us with open arms and open hearts from the first day. It has been a wonderful journey with ups and downs, good and bad moments—but mostly very good ones.

“We are not easy people to work with because we are demanding, strict, and organised. We push constantly, but we receive a fantastic response in return.

“That is the only reason we are here—the people at the club and the staff. But there is still a lot to play for before the end of the season.

“It has been a wonderful period of more than a year. I cannot finish without thanking our fans. The energy we feel at home is very important, and we need that support to continue, especially with the league still ongoing. We already have a match on Wednesday and another at the weekend.

“We are very excited about this moment—reaching two finals in a row. I believe that was the objective of those who brought us here: to build energy, the right mindset, and an approach that allows us to compete at the highest level. I think that is exactly where we are now.

“In recent years, we have beaten some of the biggest teams in Africa.”

Sundowns will now face FAR Rabat in the final, with the first leg set to be played in Pretoria and the return leg in Morocco.