Santos Addresses Sundowns’ Fatigue And The Race For Continental Glory
Mamelodi Sundowns midfielder Nuno Santos has challenged his teammates to block out their recent domestic stumble and pour their energy into Sunday’s CAF Champions League final against Moroccan side AS FAR.
The Brazilians’ pursuit of a ninth consecutive league title took a significant hit following a 3-2 defeat to TS Galaxy on Tuesday. While Masandawana remain top of the Betway Premiership with 68 points, Orlando Pirates sit just three points behind with two games in hand. A single victory for the Buccaneers would end Sundowns’ domestic dominance and secure Pirates’ first league title since 2012.
Despite the pressure, Santos insists there is no room for a post-mortem yet.
“I think we need to move on from that because there’s nothing we can do now to change what happened before,” said Santos.
“So, our focus now is on the first leg of the Champions League final. I think that is the most important game for us right now, and we have to be at our best.
“We are top of the log right now — that’s what we know. But, as I said, there’s nothing we can change about what happened before, so we just have to focus on what comes next, and that is the first leg of the final.”
The Portuguese midfielder also pointed to Sundowns’ demanding fixture schedule as one of the reasons behind the team’s late-season struggles, although he stressed that he was not using it as an excuse.
“I don’t want to make excuses, but obviously, physically, that is not the best schedule for any player in the world,” he added.
“Obviously, we want to compete in every competition because we are a big club and we know that.
“But it is also difficult for us because we play many games in a short space of time, and that is not ideal physically. We have to make sure we are in the best possible shape for the next game.”
Sundowns host AS FAR at a sold-out Loftus Versfeld this Sunday before traveling to North Africa for the decisive second leg next weekend.
With their league campaign already concluded, the Brazilians’ domestic fate now lies in the hands of their rivals, making continental success a non-negotiable priority.
