Miguel Cardoso backs healthy Downs squad to deliver Champions League glory

Managing player fitness has been one of the biggest challenges for Cardoso and the Sundowns medical team throughout a demanding campaign packed with domestic and continental commitments. 

Cardoso stressed that the strength of Sundowns lies in the quality and availability of their players, insisting that having a healthy squad could prove decisive this week. 

"Sometimes the people think that the coaches are magicians, but no there isn't any magic. There are big players who can obviously be important assets, and we are on the level of the players who we have available. Some of the best players in the team were not able to give the necessary help to the team, but there is no team that can resist losing several players who are important especially when you play a lot."

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Sundowns had to substitute goal-hero Aubrey Modiba before the end of the first leg at Loftus, however, Cardoso would not give too much away regarding who could potentially miss out. 

Cardoso sprung a surprise by naming Keanu Cupido as part of his defenders at the weekend despite suggestions he’d suffered a dislocated shoulder – forcing him to miss two Betway Premiership fixtures. 

The coach sidestepped the question around the miraculous recovery. 

The Sundowns mentor then urged fans to not overthink the 1-0 narrow lead and rather be positive about taking an advantage to Morocco.

"We have to get the energy, not from the result we could've got but rather from the result we have in hand. It's my third final in a row, but it's the first time I go into the second leg with a goal in advance, and all three finals are played away from home. 

"We will fight to make the one goal advantage enough, a second goal would've been more fair for the level we showed in the first leg, but we are going to take the right energy and approach the second leg seriously."