Miguel Cardoso talks about the training process and its difficulty! | OneFootball

The Portuguese talk about the difficulty of their work.

Miguel Cardoso talks about the training process and its difficulty!

Amidst a storm of criticism from the terraces, Mamelodi Sundowns coach Miguel Cardoso, buoyed by a resounding continental victory, has issued a poignant reminder of his profession's true nature. Fresh from his team's commanding 5-1 win against Nigeria's Remo Stars in a CAF Champions League qualifier, the under-pressure tactician offered a philosophical defense of his work.

“Coaches are not magicians," Cardoso stated via the Kickoff website, in what appears to be a direct message to his detractors. "They believe in the players and work with the qualities that they have."

This sentiment seems to be a pointed response to a section of the Sundowns faithful, with whom Cardoso has experienced a turbulent relationship. Disappointment over the team's domestic form has manifested in visible protests, with fans arriving at matches holding placards bearing the stark message ‘Cardoso must go’—a fate they also wish for his Sporting Director, Flemming Berg.

Yet, the recent triumph in Nigeria has provided a counter-narrative. Using it as a foundation, Cardoso detailed his vision for a gradual but solid build-up, saying, “So, let us know that we are more strong, compact, and try to develop the team to the level where we want to be.”

He further elaborated on the long-term project he envisions, a process he implies cannot be rushed by snap judgments. “Teams like Mamelodi Sundowns are built throughout the year and with a lot of investment in gathering the best players, working with them and always recruiting and recruiting,” he added, framing the club's ambition as a continuous cycle of development far beyond the reactionary impulses of a single match.