"Obviously, it is an incredible pleasure for the club, for myself, and my staff, and for the players that we have in the national team. That is what we work for. (I am) also happy that we have players in the Under-20 national team and the CHAN national team. It is clear in the objective of our work that our players are promoted in a level that allows them to be individuals that can be called up and represent the national team. We are going to play in the (CAF) Champions League and the Nedbank (Cup) and eventually we have to cope with that if those players play two matches in the national team. We need to take care of them. We cannot know until the national team coach (makes his selections for the starting XI)," Cardoso told the media.
The Portuguese coach then expressed a preference for the game at the top of the PSL table, against Orlando Pirates to have remained on Saturday, instead of being played this Sunday.
"It is not good that this match was put on Sunday because the players will not even have one day to rest. That is why the match should have been kept on Saturday so that players can rest. Players are human beings and have physicality that should be respected. At times we demand performance from players even when they are dying and not able to perform in the best way. I have to manage it. It is my job and I will try to do it in the best way possible," the former Celta Vigo coach aired his views on player fatigue again.
Cardoso has criticised the domestic fixture schedule on a number of occasions during his press conferences this season already. Sundowns have played four matches more than Pirates in the Premiership so far, and just like them, Bucs participate in the CAF Champions League together with three domestic Cups. The Brazilians are under extra pressure to manage their squad because of the FIFA Club World Cup where they will be the only South African club taking part in the inaugural 32-team even in the USA in July this year.
While Cardoso has his concerns for his Sundowns players, he didn't start the season with the club, taking over from previous coach Manqoba Mngqithi in December 2024, coming into this campaign in the middle of the season with such a busy fixture schedule has been a demanding challenge.
Siya sources close to Sundowns have indicated that the club has spoken to Cardoso about the unique challenges in South Africa with the season starting late and the number of trophies they are chasing.
"The club understood the frustration from the coach but they also explained to him that the team plays in almost all the tournaments that are there so they will have a tight schedule with fixtures which they have to work around," the Siya source stated.
A second insider discussed how the club spoke to Cardoso about the special structure of South African football (when compared to Europe), which includes four local competitions.
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"They spoke to the coach that there are four competitions (in South Africa), in the league, the MTN8, the Carling Knockout and the Nedbank Cup, then the CAF Champions League which means a team like Sundowns has a very tight schedule every season. Hence, this is the way the fixtures are and them playing almost every three days," the second insider stated.
Though, the second insider didn't account for the African Football League which Rulani Mokwena's Sundowns participated in and won last season, but is not part of the schedule this time around.
Despite these tremendous challenges, the Brazilians have rotated their large squad and are 18 points clear of Pirates at the top of the PSL table, with Bucs having four games in hand. Sundowns are breaking records with Cardoso, winning in style and are once again one of the favourites for the Champions League title.
