Miguel Cardoso sets the record straight on Matias Esquivel struggles | OneFootball

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Cardoso drops bombshell on Esquivel woes

Photo: Mamelodi Sundowns

Mamelodi Sundowns coach Miguel Cardoso has addressed Matias Esquivel’s woes as the winger struggled to break into the star-studded starting XI, including the matchday squad, during his time at Chloorkop.

The Argentine forward arrived on a whooping R46 million deal in January 2024; a transfer deemed as a marquee signing at the time. While he showed promising signs in the early stages with a goal against NB La Masia in the Nedbank Cup, he never made a lasting impact.

Due to his struggles, Esquivel was sent back to Argentina on loan before returning in January. He made 16 appearances across all competitions for Sundowns, scoring two goals and providing a solitary assist in the process.

Now, in a bid to recoup some of the money invested in the player, the Downs hierarchy facilitated a one-year loan move with an option to buy, to Greece Super League outfit AE Kifisias as the player is not in the Portuguese mentor’s plans.

When pressed on why Esquivel failed to make an impact at Sundowns, the former Esperance de Tunis boss dropped a bombshell, stating that he must not be subjected to pressure regarding the player’s shortcomings as he is not the one who brought him to South Africa.

“Matias is a player that came to Sundowns, not with me but with Rulani Mokwena. So, if he didn’t have a chance or he didn’t succeed, it was that time when he went back to Argentina, so I have nothing to do with him coming to the club – so please don’t put pressure on me regarding Matias Esquivel,” said Cardoso.

“But Matias is a very good player, and you will see that he will succeed where he will go. Sometimes it’s the context that we create because I also didn’t give him an opportunity, it was not only coach Rulani but me also because indeed we didn’t give him a chance.

“But also, Matias didn’t work or consistently tell me he wants to play, and that is said by training hard better than the other ones because you need to understand that for a player to play, he needs to show in the training sessions that he is better than the other ones that are playing on the same position.

The Tshwane giants will return to action with a clash against Orlando Pirates in the first leg of the MTN8 semi-final in front of a packed Orlando Stadium on Saturday afternoon. With the Buccaneers in poor form, Cardoso will be relishing the opportunity to compound their misery.