Cardoso may ultimately pay the price for this inconsistent form.
Whether they are victims of their own success or not, one thing is clear about the current Mamelodi Sundowns side, the bar has been lowered.
Something needs to change and it needs to change fast or the second half of the season will be one to forget for Sundowns supporters.
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There is something missing in this team, both in its structure and its overall approach, and the unconvincing performances have finally caught up with them. You cannot honestly argue that the 2–1 defeat to Al-Hilal in the CAF Champions League was unexpected.
It was only a matter of time before the Brazilians were unmasked in Africa’s premier club competition. Qualification for the knockout stages now looks far tougher than initially anticipated, and Miguel Cardoso can ill afford a group-stage exit.
On paper, Sundowns should have been out of sight by now. They were drawn in what appeared to be a relatively straightforward group alongside Al-Hilal, Saint-Éloi Lupopo and MC Alger. Instead, Group C is heading for a tense finish with two rounds of matches remaining.
One win in four matches is a poor return by any standard, and Cardoso may ultimately pay the price for this inconsistent form. The fact that Al-Hilal currently top the group is evidence of how far standards have dropped, and it leaves the Sundowns coach on borrowed time.
I have already stated that I do not believe Cardoso will deliver a Champions League title at Chloorkop. From what we have seen, the team possesses far more quality than their performances in the competition suggest, yet that potential remains largely untapped.
It is difficult to disagree with the growing chorus of club legends who have become disillusioned with life under Cardoso. There are few, if any, players who can be pointed to as having improved during Cardoso’s tenure, while his team selections have often raised more questions than answers.
Where is the leadership of a player like Themba Zwane when the team needs it most? Peter Shalulile has done enough to justify a regular starting role, yet he has been reduced to a squad player rather than a dependable focal point.
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The task of managing Sundowns appears to be too big for Cardoso. Without sounding like a broken record, the club’s hierarchy may simply be delaying the inevitable. I agree with Anthony Laffor, the latest club legend to call for change within the technical team.
