Mamelodi Sundowns are geared up in all aspects for what they will go through to get past the Esperance hurdle in this CAF Champions League second leg tie in Rades, Tunis.
Sundowns go into this tie carrying a 1-0 lead from the first leg played in Tshwane a week ago.
The game tonight (21:00) has been billed as a blood and thunder contest.
“We know very well what we are here for,” says Cardoso.
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“We know very well our ambitions and capacity.
“The objective is clear for ourselves, and it is to go through this stage of the competition.
“Whatever we saw in Esperance as a team in the first leg and in understanding that there have been three coaches after me, they will always be a strong team with a strong identity as a club.
“That we have to respect, but we should not forget that we also have a strong group of coaches in a club with a big identity with a strong group of players and a strong will to win.
“In football, there should never be enemies because this is a match played between two clubs with the same objectives.
“There are 90 minutes to play and never do I see football as a fight and as a war.
“It is just a football match and a sport, and we should just understand that we are part of that sport.
“It is obvious that this game will be detailed.
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“We have to play to win because teams that play for a draw end up becoming losers.
“What we want is to play this game to win.
“It will be two strong teams on the pitch with eventually different ways to face the game.
“The game will have different moments, and it is important that we relate with the different moments that the game will have.
“If we do it in a proper way eventually, we will have a better outcome out of the match and that is what we always need to work on - the details - to get the best outcome in the match.
“Champions League matches are played for results,” says Cardoso.
