Miguel Cardoso has issued his verdict on on-loan defender Lucas Suarez, whose performances have raised eyebrows for a player with a big footballing surname and coming from outside South Africa.
Sundowns played out to a goalless draw against Al Ahly in the first leg of the CAF Champions League semi-finals at Loftus Versfeld Stadium on Saturday, with Cardoso having made several changes to the squad that lost to Kaizer Chiefs in the the Nedbank Cup a week prior.
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One of those changes was the relegation of Suarez to the bench following a costly error that granted Amakhosi an equaliser in the cup fixture.
In stepped Mosa Lebusa.
However, speaking to the media after the match, Cardoso insisted that despite not fielding the Argentine, he maintains plenty of confidence in him.
"It was not difficult, I’m the coach, I must make decisions, and I should make them when I need to make them," Cardoso stated matter-of-factly.
"But let me tell you, I told Lucas before the match, starting in the locker room, that today I trust him more than last week.
"The day after the mistake, unfortunately giving a goal for Chiefs, he was head up and moving forward in the training sessions. He reacted. He had 10 minutes in the game (where)he was affected. It was clear, he couldn’t hide it.
"But then he also appeared in the game, he showed character. Argentinian guys in general, they have a lot of character hey, in the right way, so I believe he will stand up. Of course, myself, as a coach, I also need to protect him," said the former Esperance tactician.
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Masandawana will take on the Egyptian powerhouse in the second leg on Friday evening at the Cairo International Stadium.
They will be aiming to see off the 12-time African champions and continue their quest for a CAF Champions League title for the first time since 2016.
