Miguel Cardoso explains why Brayan Leon hit the ground running | OneFootball

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Cardoso speaks on Leon instant impact

Photo: Alche Greef/BackPagePix

Mamelodi Sundowns head coach Miguel Cardoso has shed light on the factors that enabled Brayan Leon to hit the ground running at the club.

The 25-year-old striker arrived on a reported deal worth in the region of $ 3.5 million (R57 million) from Independiente Medellin in his native Colombia last month.

Leon has since scored six goals in seven matches across all competitions, including a brace against Orlando Pirates in the top-of-the-table Betway Premiership clash on Wednesday.

Cardoso has credited the crop of players at his disposal and the healthy environment at Chloorkop for the player's instant impact.

“The adaptation of Brayan, Nuno [Santos], Miguel [Reisinho], the foreign players that arrived this season, has been very good because of the group we have, the club we have, the work we do together in order to obviously make them get as quick as possible identified with the way we want to play,” he said.

"And also the boys that were here already to absorb the characteristics of the players that arrived. There needs to be a fusion between the characteristics of the players that arrive and the way we play - that's what we've been doing.

"Obviously that scoring goals from him gives energy. He scored goals in the first friendly match that he played when we were in the preparation [for club football resumption after AFCON], immediately he scored one goal.

The Portuguese mentor went on to highlight the sheer amount of depth in the no.9 position, and expressed delight that despite competition for places, the squad is united.

“But look, if it's not Brayan it will be Peter [Shalulile], if it's not Peter it will be Iqraam [Rayners], if it's not Iqraam it will be Lebo [Mothiba], and we still trust on Bennet [Mokoena] that plays mostly on Diski [DDC] now,” Cardoso added.

"Obviously that we also coaches, we depend so much on the players. We just need to provide them conditions to play good - emotional satisfaction, well-being. I think they were very well welcomed and himself gives acceptance in a group - when a player shows quality, that doubles the energy towards himself.

"In the last match [vs MC Alger], I don't even know if that dance [celebration] came from him but seeing him dance together with the same choreography of the players made me at home after the match, understanding that he's already inside the dynamics of the team. So, it means they work on the locker room by themselves, to be together.

Sundowns will return to action with a Nedbank Cup Round of 16 clash against TS Galaxy at the Solomon Mahlangu Stadium on Saturday.