Mamelodi Sundowns coach Miguel Cardoso on losing 2-0 to Stade Malien: We are only happy we are in the semi-finals but obviously unhappy with the loss

Miguel Cardoso expressed mixed emotions following Mamelodi Sundowns 2-0 loss to Stade Malien in the Caf Champions League quarterfinal.

The Mamelodi Sundowns gaffer was unhappy with the loss in Mali but happy they made it to the semi-finals as they won 3-2 on aggregate.

“Obviously not happy that we lost the match, absolutely not. Happy for the qualification, happy for the club to fight for something more, for the players that reach the semi-final again, for the fans in South Africa and obviously for our staff members and technical staff,” Cardoso said after the game as they will now face his former team in Tunisian giants Esperance in the semi-finals.

“Happy for myself of course for being in African Champions League third semi-final, obviously makes me very happy as a coach.”

Cardoso’s counterpart Mauril Njoya, Stade Malien coach, was vocal throughout last week about his team’s ability to stage a comeback against Sundowns.

And they nearly did the unthinkable.

But the Sundowns coach said no team has won in Bamako and that his half time talk stressed on changing the players’ attitude towards the game.
“So, at half time important to correct the attitude. Mostly I said to the boys that it was not a question of football, is a question of attitude and the right attitude to play. I think we corrected it we brought ourselves to the game in the second half in the right way, not only press hard and control the game, we could have scored,” he said.

“I want to remember that no one won this season here in Bamako everybody lost.”