Cardoso says he will keep rotating squad despite Nedbank Cup exit

By Dylan Bettencourt

• Sundowns lost 2-0 to TS Galaxy at Solomon Mahlangu Stadium in KwaNdebele on Saturday after Cardoso made 10 squad changes.

• TS Galaxy coach Adnan Beganovic said he expected some changes from Cardoso but was surprised to see 10 new starters.

Mamelodi Sundowns coach Miguel Cardoso says he will not stop rotating his squad for the rest of the season, even after his team changes cost them their Nedbank Cup campaign.

Sundowns crashed out of the cup on Saturday, losing 2-0 to TS Galaxy at Solomon Mahlangu Stadium in KwaNdebele. Cardoso made 10 changes from the team that beat Orlando Pirates 2-1 at FNB Stadium on Wednesday.

Midfielder Nuno Santos was the only player who kept his place from the Pirates match. Ronwen Williams, Teboho Mokoena and Jayden Adams were either on the bench or left out completely.

Cardoso pointed to injuries as part of the problem. He said Arthur Sales had been part of his core group but got hurt after the MC Alger match, which forced him to bring in Santos for both the Pirates and TS Galaxy games.

“There is no possibility to have the core team. There is obviously intent to have a core, but we cannot have it,” Cardoso said.

“It’s clear some of the boys we picked are not exactly at the same level. We had to play with the players without the best condition,” he said.

Sundowns last won a cup competition in 2022.

TS Galaxy coach Adnan Beganovic said he watched Sundowns’ last two matches and noticed players struggling with cramps. He said he expected some rotation but not 10 changes.

“Even at the highest level of quality players, it is not the same if you put in 10 new players in the starting line-up,” Beganovic said.

Sundowns travel to Durban on Tuesday to face fifth-placed AmaZulu in the Betway Premiership. Galaxy play away to Siwelele FC in Bloemfontein next weekend.

Pictured above: Mamelodi Sundowns coach Miguel Cardoso.

Image source: File