Mamelodi Sundowns coach Miguel Cardoso has cautioned his team to prepare for significantly less possession at the upcoming FIFA Club World Cup in the United States.
The South African champions, accustomed to dominating the ball domestically, are set to face tougher opposition in Group F against Fluminense and Borussia Dortmund.
“We are used to controlling matches in the South African league… Now we must prepare mentally to adapt to situations where our opponents will have the majority of possession,” Cardoso stated. He highlighted Dortmund’s “very high tempo, aggressive style” as a particular challenge.
Sundowns, one of four African representatives, recently secured their eighth consecutive South African Premiership title under Cardoso.
However, their 2024 CAF Champions League campaign ended in disappointment with a final loss to Pyramids, plagued by defensive errors.
The squad includes key players like goalkeeper Ronwen Williams, midfielder Teboho Mokoena, and Golden Boot winner Lucas Ribeiro.
However, the exclusion of veteran midfielder Themba Zwane from the Champions League final remains a point of contention, with former Sundowns star Joel Masilela dubbing him “our Lionel Messi” and blaming Cardoso for the loss.
