Cardoso Relishing Esperance Reunion In CAFCL Quarterfinals
Mamelodi Sundowns coach Miguel Cardoso is relishing a reunion with his former team Esperance de Tunis in the CAF Champions League quarterfinals after the two sides were drawn against each other for a spot in the semifinals.
The two powerhouses will meet for the second season in the knockout stages after their clash in the semifinals last campaign. The Tunisian giants reigned supreme with Cardoso at the helm in that encounter but lost the final to Al Ahly.
Now, as they prepare to renew their rivalry, the Portuguese mentor, who amicably parted ways with the Taraji in October 2024, says he has no intel on his former team, highlighting that there have been a lot of changes in personnel since his departure.
“The team changed a little bit now in the market in January, so we have to take a look at the players because I confess, I didn’t watch them anymore. So, after I left Esperance to come here [to Sundowns], I didn’t watch enough regarding how they play,” Cardoso admitted.
“Obviously I follow their results, but I didn’t watch any games, so I don’t know how they are playing. I know they are doing well; they are in the first position on the table, and they made a good qualification group even though it was a more simple group let’s say.”
Cardoso, who took over the hot seat at Chloorkop from Manqoba Mngqithi last year in December, recognizes the continental stature of Esperance although he remains unfazed as he fancies his side’s chances of progression.
“But they are strong, it’s a team that has been reaching the last stages of the Champions League, a team that has won the Champions League several times, and that always has the will to do well. But I think we should worry about ourselves,” the 52-year-old tactician added.
“We should worry that we can arrive at the two games and make two very good games and from that get the result that we want. Our ambition is to approach the games in the right way, and I believe we can do a very nice quarterfinal in this competition.”
On his return to Tunis, where the second leg of the tie is scheduled to take place, the Downs mentor has made an honest admission that emotions are creeping in but insists his main focus is solely on his project with the Brazilians.
“There are emotions that come from my side at the moment, we lived very good moments, we performed very well there, and the team was playing very well. So, it’s normal that there are emotions, but my emotions now are mostly on Sundowns and how I want to leave a mark,” he said.
“My focus is to arrive on these matches and strategically play them in the right way, I believe it’s going to be very tight I have no doubts. Last year it was very tight, and we had a very difficult match across the two legs.
“So, I believe it will be very difficult because both teams play very good football and are positive in the way they approach the matches. The ambiance in Tunisia is different from the ambiance here [in SA], the Champions League ambiance in Tunisia is special – so we’ll profit from that.”
The Tshwane giants haven’t beaten Esperance in all their four CAF Champions League meetings. The first leg of the clash is set to take place in Pretoria on 1 April, while the return leg will take place in Tunis on 8 April.
