Miguel Cardoso has jumped to the defence of under-fire defender Lucas Suarez following Mamelodi Sundowns' defeat to Kaizer Chiefs in smash-and-grab fashion on Sunday.
Sundowns are out of the race for a third chance at domestic silverware this season as they fell to a 2-1 loss to Kaizer Chiefs at Loftus Versfeld Stadium on Sunday.
Teboho Mokoena found the opener at the stroke of halftime, but Chiefs got back into it through a blunder from defender Suarez's, whose misplaced pass intercepted by Wandile Duba and the 20-year-old levelled matters.
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Ashley Du Preez scored the winner in the 88th minute.
There has been much criticism directed at the Argentine defender, who joined Sundowns in January, as he also delivered an below-par display in a 2-1 defeat to Orlando Pirates a month ago.
"I don't see things like that," offered Cardoso, speaking at the post-match press conference.
"We come from a high-level match on Wednesday, wherein Lucas made a wonderful performance. As you know, he was lined up on the CAF Champions League Team of the Week.
"So, I think it's not fair [to blame him].
"Even today, he made one mistake, but he made a normal game. He coped with the speed, and tell me one shot on goal coming from play that was structured from Chiefs. I don't remember any, but maybe you do," he went on.
The former Esperance coach also pleaded with the media to be fair with his players and himself, and analyse things as they are.
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"It's your job to do it, but just pick the result, look how it came, and don't punish a player that doesn't deserve it.
"Obviously he already has enough weight to carry on his shoulders, he doesn't need to receive [more] from you because the boy is doing his job and trying to do his best just as everybody else."
Sundowns now turn their attention back to the CAF Champions League, where they have a massive first leg of the semi-finals against Al Ahly at Loftus on Saturday (15:00).
