Cardoso sends bold message to Pirates as Sundowns reclaim top spot

Mamelodi Sundowns head coach Miguel Cardoso has sent a clear message to his title rivals: three points will always trump goal difference in the race for the Betway Premiership crown.

The Brazilians reclaimed the summit on Friday night with a commanding 4-1 demolition of Chippa United at Loftus Versfeld Stadium. The result moved Sundowns ahead of Orlando Pirates in a gripping title tussle that looks set to go down to the wire with only eight games remaining.

Despite the emphatic scoreline, Cardoso was quick to downplay the significance of the “goals scored” column, insisting that clinical consistency is the only path to a record-extending ninth consecutive league title.

With the crucial win over Chippa, the Tshwane giants are now two-points ahead of Pirates after 22 games played in the league.

POINTS OVER PERCENTAGES: CARDOSO DISMISSES GOAL DIFFERENCE OBSESSION

“It’s not really a subject I want to address, but it’s important to fight for victory in every match – that’s the focus we have,” Cardoso told the media post-match.

The Portuguese tactician emphasized that while the 4-1 scoreline looked “bright” on paper, the internal management of the squad is far more complex than the public perceives.

“The mindset must always be at the level of commitment. If we give 100 per cent, we are much closer to achieving the next victory. That’s the mindset—the goals are not more important than the three points.”

Managing the ‘FIFA Virus’

Cardoso admitted that the restart following the FIFA international break presented significant hurdles, particularly regarding player welfare and tactical recalibration.

With several stars returning from national team duty with “heavy legs” and different tactical instructions, the coach praised his side’s ability to transition back into the Sundowns way of playing so seamlessly.

“It’s always difficult to restart after an international break. You have players coming back with a different idea of the game and some with heavy legs. It’s about putting everyone on the same page again. I’m very happy with how the players understood the challenge.”

While Cardoso expressed a desire to rotate his squad, the relentless nature of the South African football calendar means the celebrations will be short-lived. The Brazilians now turn their attention to a “beautiful challenge” against Durban City.

“I really wanted to give them rest, and we looked at that possibility, but we gathered the team together because there are a lot of challenges ahead,” he concluded.