Mamelodi Sundowns expect possession battle in CAFCL title decider

The Brazilians head into the continental title deciding clash in Rabat holding a slender 1-0 advantage from the first leg at Loftus Versfeld Stadium last week. 

Speaking during his pre-match press conference, Cardoso offered insight into how he expects the encounter to unfold against the Moroccan giants this evening.  

"In this game, as any other game, we'll have four different moments that the team has to handle in the right way – moments that we have to play without the ball, which means we have to defend in order to conquer the ball," said Cardoso.

"Sometimes defending can be the most aggressive moment of your game, if you are really committed, aggressive and strong in the way you defend, but there will be moments where we have the ball and it's important to also play that moment.

"Because that moment puts us more aligned with what we are in terms of the identity of the team and the club, and I think it's very important that we are a very strong team in those four moments.

"We also really need to be strong in defensive and offensive set-pieces, and that's how you can win a match like this."

READ: Sundowns better prepared for this final - Grant Kekana

Cardoso also expects the intensity this time around to be taken a notch higher considering Sundowns – apart from their lengthy travel – have had somewhat of a break in between the two legs. 

"I think the fact that we played seven matches in 21 days could have affected a little bit the intensity of the first leg, I think our biggest concern was obviously to provide the proper recovery for the players in the time between the first leg and the second leg," he added.

"So it was to make them breathe a little bit and work mainly on two training sessions, which we didn't want to make too long but quite intense, preparing us for the intensity that we also expect during the match.

"I think the players are ready because also in these moments, the readiness doesn't come only, obviously, from the physical impact of the game but also the mental state you want to live throughout the match.

"Going a little bit back on the previous question of the fans, it's important that the players also relate to the right emotions throughout the match in order to take us in the direction we want to go."