Sundowns boss plays down easy win talk before Gomora test

The Brazilians welcome their Motsepe Foundation Championship counterparts to Loftus Versfeld as overwhelming favourites, with expectations firmly set on a comfortable passage into the last 16 of the competition. 

However, Cardoso, while acknowledging Downs’ superiority, insists cup football offers no guarantees, particularly against opponents with little to lose and everything to prove.

"I don't agree that the younger players from the opposing side are hungrier than our players. That is exactly the kind of mistake that,if it happens, can take away what is theorotecially on our side, beacause in theory we should be better than Gomora.

"Theory stays in the books and doesn't go inside the four lines to play a football match."

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Cardoso said even in their analysis they will treat the match the same way Sundowns would a Champions League tie.

The coach vowed to field a strong line-up.

"The worst thing that can happen is to arrive at the end of match and it didn't go the way you thought it should have. Then you feel that you didn't create the proper attitude yourself so the boys understand what kind of game they are playing. That won't happen. We will prepare together for the game in a serious way."

Cardoso also spoke about managing a star-studded dressing room.

"My difficulty now is convincing my players that not playing one game, or even two, doesn't mean they are not as important as those that do play. It's a matter of creating that trust."