Mamelodi Sundowns coach explains Arthur Sales resurgence

Downs spent a whopping R63-million to lure Sales from the second tier in Belgium and almost immediately all eyes were on the forward to deliver. 

But the early days were tough, and Cardoso, speaking on Metro FM’s Sports Night Amplified with Andile, revealed that Sales eventually won him over. 

"Sales was a player that, when I arrived, he was coming from an injury – firstly, it's not the same to play here in South Africa or in Switzerland, and it's not the same playing for Sundowns or a team in Switzerland," said Sales.

"So there are a lot of things the players need to get acquainted with, and we also need to understand the way he is – believe me, in the beginning, I said, 'This guy, I don't like him. I don't like the way he trains.' But I kept loving him, and that's a different thing.

"I have to believe in my players, even when I say I don't like [them], because not liking is temporary – I just don't like what he does in that moment."

According to Cardoso, the Sundowns technical team also saw a different side of Sales, who is joint-third top scorer in the Betway Premiership eight goals in 18 matches, comparing his work rate to that of midfielder Marcelo Allende.

"I also took him as a number nine in the beginning, but what was more interesting was that we see Sales very aggressive without the ball, pressing everywhere, running everywhere, covering 11km per match," he added.

"What is fantastic is that only Marcelo [Allende] is able to do that or even more – around 12km per match regularly and playing almost every time."

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