Rotation the key for Miguel Cardoso and PSL kings Mamelodi Sundowns ahead of CAF Champions League final

Mamelodi Sundowns coach Miguel Cardoso has lauded the manner in which his troops showed their determination to wrap up the league title early.

Sundowns bagged their record-extending eighth Premiership crown in a row, and 15th overall in the PSL era, after beating Chippa United 3-0 on Wednesday night.

While their run looked easy on the eye, it needed Cardoso to be smart in his tactical approach as they have bigger fish to fry in continental football later this month.

Sundowns will face Pyramids in the CAF Champions League final over two legs, eager to return to the top of African football for the first time since 2016.

With that clash in mind – the first of which will take place at Loftus Versfeld in Pretoria next Saturday – Cardoso rotated his players and resting others, while tapping in those who were in the fringes for their contributions as well.

The match-day troops aced their roles to the tee in their last five games as they’ve won all those encounters, and kept as many clean sheets and scored 14 goals in the process.

Speaking during his post-match media briefing at Buffalo City Stadium after beating Chippa in their penultimate game in East London, Cardoso heaped praise on his players.

“I agree it was important (wrap up the league early), but I think the way the players committed themselves in the last games (was commendable),” Cardoso explained.

“Their need to achieve victories was so wonderful that it brought us results and allowed us to manage players.

“Throughout the last matches, we were not only able to take out players during matches, but leave out some players as well.

“Today, Mali (Khoza), and Aubrey (Modiba) stayed out. We didn’t play Themba (Zwane) because the pitch was a little bit risky for playing him.

“In the previous games, Marcelo (Allende) and Grant (Kekana) stayed out.

“So, we are able to manage players throughout the last matches. The compromise to achieve was high!”

When Cardoso took over the reins from Manqoba Mngqithi last year, there were concerns about his prowess to defend the title and reach the Champions League final.

This stems from the fact that he was the third coach to take over the helm just when the team was starting to acclimatise to the philosophy of Mngqithi.

However, the Portuguese-born coach made his detractors eat humble pie as he could very well become the first mentor to win the team their second Africa crown in nine years.

Cardoso admits that their journey hasn’t been easy due to the quick turnover of matches between domestic and continental football in the past few months.

And that’s why they’ve had to use different match-day squads to prepare for the upcoming games, something that requires the rotation of the playing personnel.

“I know that some of you joked a little bit when I said we were preparing for matches in 20 minutes, but it was true,” Cardoso said.

“Our concern is that if we play the way we want you can use the games as a training session, and go from there.

“But of course, when you play badly, you’ll get nothing.

“But when you commit yourself to playing good and the way you want, you’ll get the best training sessions that you want to do.”

Sundowns will be duly crowned champions when they face Magesi FC in their last league match of the season at Loftus Versfeld tomorrow afternoon (5.30pm kick-off).

Cardoso is, again, expected to rest his regulars in the game as he’d have one eye on the Champions League final first leg clash at the same venue on May 24.