Cardoso: There Will Be Moments For Everything

If there's one lesson Mamelodi Sundowns coach Miguel Cardoso picked up from last season's CAF Champions League final, it's how the away goal rule can have such a big impact.

In their last two matches, Sundowns played an expansive game, which is a contract to their usually patient game, and Cardoso says they will not be taking the same approach in the two-legged final against Moroccan outfit AS FAR, starting with the first clash at Loftus Stadium on Sunday.

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Having been on the losing side in the last two Champions League finals, Cardoso is hoping it will be third time lucky this year.

"Considering the rules of the tournament and the fact that still in the CAF competition, the away rule is a factor that may decide games. It's important that we look for a positive result. We understand that conceding home has an impact on the away match," Cardoso told media at Loftus Stadium on Friday.

We want to make a good game, but these kind of games are always complicated games. There will be moments for everything. We know very well what we want to (do). We are going to look for a result where we can create advantages because it's important, but not by any pressure. Sometimes we want to go quick and things can become drastic. We need to be a complete team in the four moments of the game and organise ourselves."

It's been a busy period for Sundowns, but they have to dig deep with themselves to put up their finest performance to finally get their hands on the big prize.

"Everything came so quickly. It seems the last month past flying and it seems very recently we were discussing the group stage and what could happen and suddenly we are. It has been quite hectic the last month and finally we start to settle down on where we are and what we have ahead," Cardoso said.

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"It’s important to tell that we feel privileged as a club to be in back-to-back Champions League finals. Obviously, for myself it’s a bit more challenging because two-and-a-half years ago when we came to Africa, we had objectives and dreams and we work very hard to work in clubs like Mamelodi Sundowns that gave us conditions to be able to fight for big things and it’s a moment of ambition. We will enjoy the nine days we have ahead and that’s important. We know the challenges, we know what it means, we take it seriously.