Miguel Cardoso outlines target for MC Alger showdown | OneFootball

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Cardoso reveals objective for MCA clash

Photo: Miguel Cardoso

Mamelodi Sundowns head coach Miguel Cardosos has outlined his team's target for their highly anticipated CAF Champions League clash against Rulani Mokwena's MC Alger on Friday (21h00).

The Tshwane giants head into the showdown in Algeria sitting atop Group C standings after beating FC-Saint-Eloi Lupopo in their opener, while Mokwena's men are fixated in position three following a defeat to Al-Hilal Omdurman.

With the AFCON break on the horizon, the Downs mentor says it's imperative for the Brazilians to take full control of their group with MCA's scalp ahead of the continental showpiece in Morocco.

“Obviously that we are going for an international break pretty soon, in one or two weeks time with the AFCON and it's important for the team to try to position as best as possible on the Champions League for this first moment - second match,” said Cardoso.

"And that's what we are going to try tomorrow [Friday], make a good match and try to get the best result as possible so that we we go for the break in the best position.

While he is keen to secure a favorable result on the road, Cardoso is braced for a hostile reception, but is banking on his team's experience and pedigree at the highest level of African football.

“What I expect is obviously that this match will be very intense on an environment where the best players excel themselves, become better. The players that are afraid or that don't have quality or experience, usually they shrink a little bit,” the Portuguese tactician added.

"But we see ambiences like the one we are going to face as high level motivational, positive ambiences. I worked in Tunisia, so I experienced a lot of these kinds of ambiences and we have a lot of experience in Champions League matches around the Northern Africa that has always these kinds of ambiences.

"We love the ambiences, it's absolutely wonderful to have a full stadium, supportive stadiums, beautiful shows around and that's what we live for - it's for these moments that the players work for so many years so that they arrive in this stages and they can show what they are made of.

He went on: "Obviously we know that this will bring intensity in the actions, the crowd doesn't allow the match to be slow, it imposes dynamics, it imposes commitment and we need to be ready for it. But I see this match as an opportunity.

"As I said, whatever happens we will go home. Tomorrow there will be another day and after tomorrow there will be another day, and the story on this competition is far beyond from being written besides this match we are going to play here.