'Mamelodi Sundowns slump a thing of the past' - Marcelo Allende | OneFootball

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Allende on Downs slow start

Photo: Muzi Ntombela/ BackPagePix

Mamelodi Sundowns midfielder Marcelo Allende is adamant that the Tshwane giants' sluggish start to the 2025/26 campaign is a thing of the past.

The Brazilians were knocked out of the MTN8 and Carling Knockout Cup, which stretched their domestic cup title drought. Furthermore, they have uncharacteristically dropped crucial points in the league despite currently sitting atop the table.

With the Masandawana faithful growing increasingly frustrated, head coach Miguel Cardoso attributed the decline to not having a proper pre-season after the FIFA Club World Cup and the controversial exit of talisman Lucas Ribeiro Costa.

Now, Allende believes Sundowns have recovered from the slump and insists the team is much stronger at the moment, setting the tone for even better performances in the future.

“We didn't start the season the way we wanted, we could not get the results that we wanted - we were knocked out of two cups on penalty shootouts but the team has been collecting energy out of that and moving forward," said the Downs midfield maestro.

”In the moment we feel that we are stronger, we feel that we have the availability of resources. We even know that we will be stronger in the future as we can recover those resources.

"And the focus of the team is obviously on the mindset that we need to have to continue to be capable to win matches after matches and that is the most important thing.

Sundowns will host the Democratic Republic of Congo outfit FC Saint-Eloi Lupopo in their CAF Champions League group stage opener at Loftus Versfeld Stadium on Saturday.