Under fire Miguel Cardoso demands respect | OneFootball

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Cardoso asks for respect amid mounting pressure

Photo: Sydney Mahlangu/ BackPagePix

Mamelodi Sundowns head coach Miguel Cardoso has called for respect amid mounting pressure and speculations about a potential exit at Chloorkop.

The Tshwane giants have had somewhat of a below-par 2025/26 campaign thus far, much to the discontent of the Masandawana faithful, who are calling for Pitso Mosimane's return in the dugout.

Speaking after Sundowns edged Gomora United in the Nedbank Cup Round of 32, Cardoso insisted nothing is missing from the Downs team except for trust - to his surprise considering the credentials he has in contrast to his counterparts.

“You expect that Sundowns will win championships with 20 points advantage every year - it will not happen. What's missing is that probably people need to trust, and I'm always saying that our opponents became stronger it's clear. There's nothing missing, what's missing is trust,” he said.

"If people trust, the things will happens normally because there's a lot of quality in the squad, there's a lot of quality in the coaching staff, there's a lot of quality in the coach because I don't see around any coach with a curriculum that I have.

"But we will not win everyday, but believe, what is important in this club is not if we fall, it's the attitude we show to rise and that speaks for us and those are the values we have in this club. So, we are together, we are united, we are strong and we will move forward in the right way.

The Portuguese mentor went on to address the circulating video of him leaving the Nedbank Cup pre-match press conference on Monday, with social media users making fun of the colour of his car and how he had parked.

“Of course, when people make jokes with the colour of the car of the coach and there's no respect on the integrity of a human being like me - there's a lot of wrong things in this country. It's important to settle those things because a few years ago you had someone very important in this country that brought some idea about how to relate and I found a country that is fantastic on values,” Cardoso added.

“I don't think it's proper to joke with the car of the coach or the way the coach got out of a press conference and that is what is missing - is look at the coach and say, 'Respect this guy he didn't fall from the sky, this guy coached teams that no one ever imagine in South Africa.'”

"Just show some respect and that's it. One day I will go. No one needs to push anyone, just need to take it calmly and let ourselves work. These players deserve a lot of respect, this club deserves a lot of respect. It's a huge club by huge people. This club is so strong and a lot of respect by the people inside because we have fantastic people inside the club and we are together on that.