Everybody at Mamelodi Sundowns 'living in peace' to achieve to more success

Mamelodi Sundowns coach Miguel Cardoso says the team is in sync with the demands of the club and its fans, which is why they believe they are on the right track.

Sundowns are vying for a record-extending ninth Premiership title this season, having dominated the local league for the past eight campaigns.

They’ll be confident of going all the way, following an impressive outing at the FIFA Club World Cup, which further endeared them to football fans around the globe.

But while winning the league is almost expected of the team, they also need to challenge for trophies both domestically and on the continent.

They missed out on the CAF Champions League crown by the narrowest of margins last season, losing to Pyramids in the final.

On home soil, they need to improve in cup competitions, having recently fallen short in the MTN8, Carling Knockout, and Nedbank Cup.

So, with Sundowns set to open their Wafa Wafa (MTN8) cup campaign against Richards Bay at Lucas Moripe Stadium on Sunday night (6pm), Cardoso says they are ready to compete.

“It’s important for people to know that we live in peace inside the club,” said Cardoso during an exclusive interview on Mamelodi Sundowns TV’s Pitchside Podcast.

“That means we understand the demands we face, but we trust each other to perform at the highest level. People expect the club to win everything on offer.

“The club has been winning a lot over the last decade, and I know the full story of everything that’s happened.

“After these eight months [in charge], I think people should trust that we can continue that legacy. We are at the height of it!”

Cardoso wasn’t everyone’s ideal candidate to build on Sundowns’ legacy when he replaced Manqoba Mngqithi towards the end of the first half of last season.

He had an underwhelming track record, and some believed he was hired simply because he had eliminated Sundowns from the Champions League semi-finals a few months earlier.

But the Portugal-born coach made his critics eat humble pie — winning the league and reaching the Champions League final for the first time since the club’s 2016 triumph.

“In the beginning, people were saying maybe Coach Miguel’s style doesn’t suit Sundowns — and that’s absolutely wrong,” said Cardoso, who was also named the league’s Coach of the Season.

“I was in Portugal for a long time and considered a coach who, maybe, was too romantic in how I think about the game.

“Sometimes, people prefer more objectivity, a direct game or speed. They don’t always like the pressure that comes with building from the back.”

While Cardoso is committed to staying true to Sundowns’ “shoeshine and piano” philosophy, he acknowledges that tactical flexibility is crucial — especially in continental competition.

“People must understand that there will be matches, particularly in the Champions League, where we need to be clever in our approach,” Cardoso added.

“Sometimes, the other teams are at a level where they can really elevate their quality. You saw that in the World Cup preparations — how much African teams have invested.

“We are on the right track. We’re not rushing, but making the right choices to ensure we become stronger, year after year.

“We need to grow stronger — looking internally, externally, up and down. We must continue to develop the players we have, especially the youngsters.”