'Mamelodi Sundowns outplayed MC Alger' - Miguel Cardoso | OneFootball

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Downs were better than MCA, says Cardoso

Photo: Miguel Cardoso

Mamelodi Sundowns head coach Miguel Cardoso believes his side was better than Rulani Mokwena's team in their goalless stalemate in the CAF Champions League on Friday night.

The results saw the Tshwane giants maintain their position at the summit of Group C standings with four points from two games, while the Algerian champions sit third with a point in as many matches.

Reflecting on the match, the Downs mentor praised the tactical acumen of his counterpart as Sundowns couldn't create clear-cut goal scoring opportunities.

“I think that it was a beautiful match indeed, I agree completely, played by two good teams. I think Sundowns has to be proud about the match that we did, we had the intention to control the match and I think we had absolute control of the match,” Cardoso said.

"Anyway good strategy from MC Alger, closing the middle, positioning in a diamond, closing very well the spaces on the inside - the spaces we are quite strong on using. We knew it would be a big fight inside because both teams have quality to play inside.

"It was also important that we have numbers inside, that blocks a little bit the last third of both teams. But for people that like the tactical approach of the match, it was a beautiful match. Big respect for what happened on the pitch in a fantastic ambience where sometimes it's difficult to play and to manage emotions.

While Cardoso acknowledges how Mokwena's men perfectly executed their gameplan, he is adamant his charges had total control of the match, citing statistical evidence.

“I think both teams showed maturity, my team showed a lot of maturity, managing the different moments, fantastic organization, good pressure on the opponent, not allowing many entrances on the box. We would have liked to take three points but we take one and let's prepare the future,” he added.

"The history of this game is the control that Sundowns had, trying to play from the back with the ball. Obviously when you don't press the goalkeeper there is immediately not an extra man. I think it was very clear that MC Alger didn't want to give the free player to Sundowns because that would allow us to arrive with more numbers in the front.

"But it's also clear we found tactically [a way] how to build, how to create, how to control. It's clear from the stats the level of control Sundowns had on the match, in a context that is very difficult - this team has high quality players in the front - any mistake can give you a goal.

He concluded: "Sundowns made a wonderful job, the players have to be congratulated. The few moments that we saw from MC Alger came from losses of balls we had in the middle because it was exactly like that, the pressure was prepared by the pressure done by the front players of MC Alger.