Miguel Cardoso addresses Sundowns defensive frailties

Mamelodi Sundowns head coach Miguel Cardoso has addressed his team's uncharacteristic defensive frailties evident in the early stages of the ongoing 2026/27 campaign.

The Brazilians have surprisingly kept a total of two clean sheets in nine games across all competitions thus far this season, conceding a staggering 11 goals, while scoring 21 goals in the process.

While his charges are proving porous at the back, Cardoso sees a silver lining in the manner in which the African champions are conceding, noting that most goals are the consequence of individual errors instead of a poor defensive structure.

“I think what is obviously important is how we balance those goals. Obviously that it was nice not to suffer in the previous match. Today [vs Golden Arrows] we suffered a goal that I already commented on - with 10 players on the pitch because the team didn't have the maturity to put the ball out,” said the Downs mentor.

"What I would like people to do, because I see also a lot of people speaking [about] the goals we suffer, but no one took time to go and analyse goal by goal why they happen because most of them don't come from collective behaviours, they come from simple mistakes that the players are doing.

The Portuguese tactician went on to attribute the lack of shutouts to the absence of influential personnel in his squad, and the low levels of match sharpness, highlighting the high intensity with which his team play at.

“Obviously, I think that it's also clear that the intensity we are playing at is quite high. The team in the last three or four matches put high tempo on the pitch. Also, it's clear that this team lost a lot of direction from the last year,” Cardoso added.

"Keanu [Cupido] is not on the pitch, Jayden Adams is not on the pitch, Nuno Santos is not on the pitch, Arthur Sales is not on the pitch, and Khuliso Mudau is not on the pitch. So, there's a lot of changes that also bring the need of finding the connections.

"It will settle down, obviously. I would like to have less goals suffered in the moment but I'm pretty happy because we are also scoring a lot. And I think if you go back and see, probably we are making one of the best starts from the last many years.

"I don't want to comment because people will say I speak too much, but just go back and take a look, and see the stats and the numbers and you will see the team is going in the right direction.

Sundowns will swing back to action on Wednesday night under the lights at Loftus Versfeld Stadium, where they face Siwelele FC, who recently parted ways with head coach Lehlohonolo Seema after a winless start to the season.

Hlayisani Magoro

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Football journalist from South Africa covering African football news, exclusive stories and key events while sharing insights with passionate fans of the game.

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