Miguel Cardoso fires back at critics amidst supporters’ discontent | OneFootball

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Cardoso hits back at critics over 'unjust judgement'

Photo: Ryan Wilkisy/ BackPagePix

Mamelodi Sundowns head coach Miguel Cardoso has hit back at critics, with a section of the Masandawana faithful calling for his sacking amidst a slow start to the season.

The Portuguese tactician took over the hotseat at Chloorkop in December 2024 and guided the Tshwane giants to a record-extending eighth consecutive championship and the CAF Champions League final, where they lost to Pyramids FC.

However, an uncharacteristic start to the ongoing campaign sparked supporters’ discontent, with last season’s continental and global displays being brought up, much to the frustration of the Downs mentor.

“We were champions, and we broke almost all the records, we took the team to the Champions League final after 10 years. What is very strange is that every time people speak about the Champions League last season, it seems like we lost, like everything was a disaster,” said Cardoso.

“When they put the negative things they put the Champions League, negative things, Club World Cup on the side of Miguel Cardoso.

Cardoso went on to state that he, along with Steve Barker, are winners as they managed to steer their respective clubs to the latter stages of CAF inter-club competitions. Furthermore, the former Esperance boss says being a champion is not always about lifting silverware.

“Look, me and the coach are winners. He is a winner because he made the Confederation Cup, he lost in the semi-final but he’s a winner because not always the ones that are second or third are losers,” he added.

“When you go to a final of the Champions League, there’s a long way until you get there, it’s not because you lose a final that you are a loser – that’s absolutely ridiculous to interpret it like that.

“And it’s not because you go to the Club World Cup and you play so well and you make four points out of nine against the best teams in the world that makes you a loser, no.

“I spoke about that in the beginning when I arrived in South Africa, it’s not that before I couldn’t work in a club where I couldn’t win trophies that I was not a champion because being a champion is not always lifting a trophy. Sometimes rebuilding this team of Sundowns in the moment is a work of a champion, believe me, I’m going to do it.