Mamelodi Sundowns head coach Manqoba Mngqithi has hit back at critics who have rated his current side below the previous team that was under the stewardship of Rulani Mokwena.
Mngqithi was criticized early in the season for changing Sundowns' style of play, from possession-based to a more direct approach.
Pressure mounted on the 53-year-old coach after side were also knocked out of the MTN8 after back-to-back defeats to Stellenbosch FC in the semi-finals.
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However, the coach stuck to the same system and testament to how effective it is, is that the Tshwane giants have won the last two matches, against Mbabane Swallows and SuperSport United, playing with different personnel in the line-up.
New signing Asekho Tiwani, Rivaldo Coetzee and Lebohang Maboe were in midfield, with another new recruit Iqraam Rayners up front.
Mngqithi has suggested that Sundowns have achieved the best attacking stats from their 4-0 win over Swallows and 2-0 victory over United since 2021 when he was still the co-coach.
"So far, it looks good. I think the players who got the opportunity after we were bombed out of the MTN8 are showing that: 'Hey, we're also here' and I don't hear you talking about these guys. You're talking about the ones that are not playing," Mngqithi told journalists ahead of their CAF Champions League second-leg clash against Umkhonto Kashaka.
This was in reference to noise over Teboho Mokoena and Khuliso Mudau being dropped from the two games.
"And these guys are winning matches, they are achieving success that we've never achieved before. Sixth highest xG [Expected Goals] in more than 170 games that Sundowns has played.
"The game against SuperSport is the seventh highest xG for us as Sundowns from 2021. And all these things are positive stories that you should be reporting about for this group, so that you can help me, so that the ones who are outside also fight to get in and we'll always have a stronger team all the time to try and surpass what these ones are achieving," Mngqithi said.
"We've never really had these xGs against teams like SuperSport and in the [CAF] Champions League we've played all sorts of games. you can say Mbabane is a small team, but sixth highest [xG] in 170 matches that Sundowns has played, it's very big.
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"It's something we should be talking about because that's a very good story to tell, unless we're only for sensationalism."
Sundowns host Swallows in the return leg on Saturday at Lucas Moripe Stadium.
Kick-off is at 18:00.