The one with the hammer: Miguel Cardoso calls for unity and flexibility ahead of Orlando Pirates clash

Miguel Cardoso was the personification of Valentine's Day after guiding Mamelodi Sundowns to the CAF Champions League’s quarter-final ‘on the day of love’ at Loftus Versfeld in Hatfield.

The Portugal-born coach waxed poetic about why he hopes everyone around the club continues to find each other again through “special shared moments,” following the outside noise that recently surrounded the club.

The Brazilians beat MC Alger 2-0 in their group stage match on Saturday, securing their place among the best eight teams on the continent for an eighth successive season. While the team did their part – producing a professional performance on the pitch – Masandawana filled the stands, painting the stadium yellow and green, intimidating the Algerians, who hardly hit second gear, despite being led by former Sundowns’ coach Rulani Mokwena.

A united Sundowns – players, coaches, and supporters – had started to become a foreign concept at the club. Some disgruntled fans wanted Cardoso and sporting director Flemming Berg out due to poor results and an ineffective style of play.

Heading into this past Saturday’s match, the technical team seemed to be disjointed, with reports emerging that the club had suspended analyst Mario Masha over allegations that he had leaked training information and footage to Mokwena over the past few months.

Given the proceedings on Saturday, Cardoso adopted a colourful explanation for how he thinks his team can take their momentum forward.

“When a man and woman meet for them to fall in love, they need to share emotions – good emotions, good moments together, and enjoy each other,” Cardoso explained. “The feelings come from leaving good emotions.

“Obviously, that’s what we want – I speak about the type of love between the players, the club, coaches, fans, and people in general. When we live through good emotions, we strengthen the good feelings that we attach to each other.”

But while he was happy with everything – the support from the stands and performance on the pitch – Cardoso alluded that they need to be flexible in their approach due to the demands of the game, without compromising their principles.

“Every day is a new day in football; it’s not mathematics. Otherwise, we would always use the same formula to solve our problems,” Cardoso said.

“I usually say the one that has a hammer has a tool where all the problems look like nails. So, we need to understand that not all the problems look like nails.

“We need to use other means to solve our problems. But with regards to commitment, it’s very important that we keep this level going forward.”

Indeed, Sundowns need to keep united and keep – or even raise – standards going forward, especially heading into their top-of-the-table clash against Orlando Pirates in the Betway Premiership at FNB Stadium on Wednesday afternoon (7:30 pm kick-off). 

Sundowns need to keep an almost identical approach as Saturday by coming together to win the match and ensure that they trim the gap at the log to just three points, after Pirates extended it to six following their 3-0 win over Marumo Gallants at the Amstel Arena on Saturday.

Given all those expectations, Cardoso has questioned those who think his main focus is on the opposition they’ll face in the Champions League quarter-final, whereas there’s a bigger fish to fry on the domestic front before that.

“Do you guys really believe that I am worried about the Champions League's matches?” Cardoso asked. “Believe me – put yourself in my shoes – I am worried about the match against Pirates, then the (Nedbank) Cup match on the weekend (against TS Galaxy), and then the one after.

“I really want to close this door. Enjoy the moment a little bit, which is important.

"Share the celebrations with the boys, and rest as much as possible and recharge for tomorrow (Sunday). There’s no life in football that’s ahead; you need to live day by day.”

With Pirates and Sundowns producing thrills and spills whenever they cross paths, Cardoso foresees another good spectacle of South African football at the Calabash.

“Life brings us surprises day by day. If you start living in three weeks or one month, then you are going to start focusing on what’s not important,” Cardoso said.

“Maximum focus is on Wednesday. It’ll be a beautiful match to prepare and live for.”