Rulani: 'The one thing people don't know about Mendieta...'

Head coach Rulani Mokwena has highlighted the qualities recent signing Junior Mendieta brings to Mamelodi Sundowns, as well some traits most may not be familiar with.

The midfielder was unveiled as the latest big-money signing to join the star-studded Sundowns squad ahead of the 2023/23 season. 

READ | 'That's what attracted me to this team' - Mendieta opens up blockbuster Sundowns move

The move comes on the back of a phenomenal personal campaign that saw Mendieta make 19 goal contributions (10 goals and nine assists) in 31 appearances last season.

Mokwena has revealed his early impressions of the midfielder.

"Mendieta provides us with dynamism, especially in the number ten position," Mokwena told the club's media.

"He (Mendieta) is a ten that can project himself into a number nine and that gives us good versatility with regards to how we want to play the schemes.

"The organisation of forms that we can adopt and he's got a lot of very good qualities for sure that suit the way we want to play.

"He's got a very good capacity from a motor quality type of perspective and then also he is very aggressive in his football actions.

"In particular his counter pressing and his pressing actions were very important for Stellenbosch the last couple of seasons, particularly his influence in trying to win the ball in areas closer to the box."

Mokwena also believes that the attacking midfielder will add a different dimension to how Sundowns execute and defend their set-plays.

"The one thing that lot of people don't know about Mendieta is that on set-pieces he is very strong both in technical delivery and his contribution in set-pieces but also on defensive set-pieces," Mokwena added.

"He's got very good elevation, he was extremely important for Stellenbosch in how they defended their set-plays.

"He ticks a lot of boxes from a tactical perspective but also from a personality perspective, the type of players that we like: passionate and aggressive, extremely competitive."

Sundowns kick off their defence of the DStv Premiership title with a clash against Sekhukhune United on Friday, 4 August at New Peter Mokaba Stadium.

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