PRETORIA, SOUTH AFRICA – FEBRUARY 05: Mamelodi Sundowns coach Miguel Cardoso during the Betway Premiership match between SuperSport United and Mamelodi Sundowns at Lucas Masterpieces Moripe Stadium on February 05, 2025 in Pretoria, South Africa. (Photo by Lefty Shivambu/Gallo Images)
Mamelodi Sundowns head coach Miguel Cardoso insists it was important to protect certain players ahead of Saturday’s clash against Orlando Pirates.
The Brazilians claimed the bragging rights in the Tshwane Derby after defeating SuperSport United 3-0 on Wednesday night.
Read: Sundowns Outclass SuperSport In Tshwane Derby
Cardoso was not shy with his substitutions after Sundowns scored a third goal shortly after the break, but says he does not want to lose players during this busy schedule.
“Today was important to play a secure match, trying to get the emotional advantage from scoring first of course and also asked the guys at halftime to enter to make a fifth goal to make some player rotations because it’s important to manage the effort of the players,” Cardoso told SuperSport after the game.
“I don’t want to lose players; we are in a very tight schedule and difficulties to manage it. So, we played the game we had to play. There were moments we had to control it mostly and without even accelerating too much just trying to protect ourselves from the efforts we don’t need to do because we need to work like that.
“We understood that they made several tactical changes in the first half in order to try and complicate our task and we answered according to that. I think it was a beautiful game in that aspect in terms of tactical approach from both coaches and trying to give answer to what was happening inside the pitch.
“Basically, it’s our job to help our players to give them tools. Halftime was very important to make some to put the guys on the mindset to finish the game and we managed to get it done.’
He continued, “We needed to win mostly; we needed to win. It was important, it was important to continue our step, our way and obviously if we could manage the result in order to protect some players.
“It would be important because the players are tired and we also should not overuse them because that increase the risk of injuries. So, mission accomplished also on that aspect of the game,” Cardoso said.
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