Sundowns managing player load ahead of Chiefs showdown

The Brazilians host Kaizer Chiefs at Loftus Versfeld Stadium after a demanding stretch of seven matches in 21 days and know victory over Amakhosi would move them another step closer to retaining the crown. 

Cardoso stressed that recuperation had become a key part of Sundowns’ preparations as they navigate a congested fixture schedule during the closing stages of the campaign.

"The objective is the same, there is not a lot of time, for sure you can imagine for us the recovery process is the most important. They didn't play for a long time, so since Pirates I think they haven’t played. What it means is that they come with full energy and we will also be with full energy for sure, that's a good match ahead, let's go for it,” Cardoso said.

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Despite the demanding calendar, which has meant Cardoso only gets to focus on one game at a time, the Downs mentor highlighted the need for points. 

"As you may imagine, the last days I did nothing more than focus on Polokwane City. I saw absolutely nothing from Kaizer Chiefs, obviously my people are working on that,” he explained. 

“It's a match to be played with all respect by everybody obviously it's a match that is quite a big match in South Africa. So, we have to go for it and try to make it in the best way so that we can get the points because we need the points to proceed, that's it."

Sundowns could still be without winger Monnapule Saleng, who felt unwell while away to Polokwane City last week.

"There's no competition because there's space for all of them. I think if you take a look at the medical report, it's clear Saleng could not be available to be lined up or called up even,” he added.

“When we were in the previous match on the warm up he didn't feel good, so he was on the bench but he could not even play when we felt that he was not okay or when he complained that he was not okay, we could not substitute on the match sheet so it was already late. 

“So, he was on the bench but he could not be lined up for the previous match. Then obviously he's on the treatment."