Cardoso Reflects On PSL’s Similarities To French Ligue

Mamelodi Sundowns coach Miguel Cardoso has drawn parallels between the Betway Premiership and the French Ligue 1, where he previously coached Nantes.

However, he said that experience in France has come in handy in how to handle matches in the PSL because the league relies on quick counterattacks.   

Cardoso was appointed by Nantes in June 2018 but was let go in October, having been in charge of eight matches. In those matches, Cardoso only had one match which was against RC Strasbourg Alsace. He lost four and drew the other matches.  

While that stint was short-lived due to poor results, he has won all three matches in charge with Sundowns, who appointed him after sacking Manqoba Mngqithi. 

The Portuguese coach started his tenure with a victory over Raja Casablanca, Stellenbosch, and AmaZulu respectively, with the latter on Tuesday.  

They won that game in the last minute when Bafana Bafana striker Iqraam Rayners nodded in the header in the last minute of the game to see Sundowns take all the points in Durban.   

“It’s a competition with very good teams,” said Cardoso. 

“Obviously, I’m so keen to understand more and we go as we go through the games, studying the teams and that they are physical, quick players and that reminds me of France when I was Nantes. 

“We had to deal with quick attacks, counter attacks and in that moment, I was probably little bit naiver where I approached the game. 

“Now, I’m probably more concrete, more correct on the approach that I understand how the other teams can harm you so that we prevent these kinds of things. 

“So, we had to cope with this kind of style of game.”  

Following the win over AmaZulu, which was another solitary strike, Sundowns will return to Durban when they visit Richards Bay at King Zwelithini Stadium on Saturday (15:30).