Mamelodi Sundowns head coach Miguel Cardoso has revealed the respect he already had for the South African giants before becoming their manager, describing the club as a “big monster” when he previously faced them while in charge of Esperance de Tunis.

The Portuguese tactician’s comments highlight the reputation Sundowns had established on the African continent even before he took over at Chloorkop in December 2024.

Cardoso developed first-hand knowledge of the Brazilians during his time at Esperance, whom he guided to the 2023/24 CAF Champions League final. During that campaign, the Tunisian giants eliminated Sundowns in the semi-finals, winning 2-0 on aggregate.

Speaking about his earlier perception of the club, Cardoso explained that he regarded Sundowns as a formidable opponent long before joining them.

“I remember when I came to play against Mamelodi Sundowns, I was looking at Sundowns as a big monster, big, big team,” he said, reflecting on the club’s standing in African football.

His remarks underline the reputation Sundowns built through consistent performances in domestic and continental competitions. The club had reached the CAF Champions League final in 2024 before Cardoso arrived, having also featured in the semi-finals in previous seasons.

After leaving Esperance in October 2024, Cardoso was appointed Sundowns head coach in December of the same year, replacing Manqoba Mngqithi. His arrival brought a coach who had already experienced the challenge of facing the Brazilians at the highest level of African club football.

Cardoso has also emphasised that winning trophies should not change the club’s attitude. He believes humility, commitment and a willingness to fight remain essential to sustaining success.

For the Sundowns coach, the priority is not how opponents perceive the team, but how the players approach their responsibilities and perform in every competition.

His comments reinforce the scale of the task at Chloorkop, where expectations remain high as Sundowns seek to maintain their position among Africa’s leading clubs.

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