'I was suprised' - TS Galaxy coach on heavily-rotated Sundowns | OneFootball

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Galaxy mentor baffled by wholesale Downs changes

Photo: DISKI FANS

TS Galaxy head coach Adnan Beganovic says he was puzzled with the wholesale changes in the Mamelodi Sundowns starting XI in their Nedbank Cup clash on Saturday.

Having played two high-intensity matches against MC Alger and Orlando Pirates, respectively, Downs mentor Miguel Cardoso made a staggering 10 changes to the team that beat the Buccaneers.

The Rockets pounced on the heavily-rotated team as they knocked Sundowns out of the Nedbank Cup in the round of 16 following a 2-0 victory at home.

While he expected the Brazilians to rotate, Beganovic admitted to being suprised when he learnt of the Sundowns line-up, which had a plethora of new faces.

“I expected at least five changes and then I saw before the game nine [changes], I think 10 with the keeper - only one player played the previous game, it's the number 10, [Nuno] Santos. I was so suprised,” he said.

"I know even if [they rotated], it's high-level quality players. We don't need to talk about that, all players at Sundowns are high-quality players, but it's not the same, putting 10 or nine new players at the same time to play.

"I was also happy when I saw [Ronwen] Williams is not in the goals, it's not the same to defend when he's in the goal and without him it can be key why we played so good upfront, why we could press the last line because the keeper [Dennis Onyango] is not good with the legs like Williams.

The Bosnian mentor remarked that the heavy rotation gave his team an advantage as they were able to press high on the pitch and have a lion share of possession in their quest for the win.

“I watched [their] last two games live, I went to Loftus Stadium against MC Alger and FNB Stadium to watch against Orlando Pirates, and I saw 10 minutes before the end [of the match], so many players complain about cramping and about injuries,” Beganovic added.

"And I expected to see some changes but not nine because it gives us more ball opportunities, to press more, to have more possession in the legs and that's what we used obviously, and we scored two goals. I'm so happy because we used that and hard luck to the opponent.