Miguel Cardoso plays down alleged Steve Komphela incident in Angola

Reports there claimed Komphela assaulted Bianchi during Sunday’s first-leg preliminary-round match, allegedly leaving the Wiliete coach requiring medical attention.

However, speaking ahead of Friday night’s return leg at Loftus Versfeld, Cardoso sought to downplay the incident, suggesting relations between the two technical benches remained cordial.

"Well, there are two or three things that I can say. First one is that small things sometimes can become big things when you obviously give it too much attention. And I think that was too much attention than it was necessary for what happened," said Cardoso

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"Second one is that the clubs – we were very well received in Angola, very well received. And we were very well taken even out until the last moment we entered the flight. The teams and the clubs had and are still establishing a fantastic relation in terms of the way people connected."

 Cardoso added that emotions might have spilled over, but nothing drastic. 

"Football has a lot to do with emotions. A lot of emotions sometimes, which at times spill out of the glass. It doesn't mean that the glass is broken or that the water is spoiled. It's just a little bit of emotions, and we have already overcome that. I am sure it will be a beautiful match on Friday with people who will respect each other."

The Sundowns coach expects to exchange pleasantries with Bianchi on Friday night.

Meanwhile, asked for his thoughts on the reigning champions being forced to play preliminary rounds instead of going straight into the group stages, Cardoso insisted that “rules are rules”.