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Article continues belowArticle continues belowArticle continues below<ul><li>Cardoso explains what it means to beat Sundowns</li><li>Esperance beat Masandawana in Caf CL semi-finals</li><li>Tunisian giants will play Al Ahly in the final</li></ul><script type="application/json" data-placement="fcplayer-semantic">{"type":"fcplayer-semantic","data":{"embedCode":"//cdn.fcp.codes/embed-code-template/embed-code-template.js#SEMANTIC_5704afb8-c10b-4ba5-9cb4-d7fb6098ef90"}}</script>

Esperance boss Miguel Cardoso - 'I have coached in the Camp Nou against Barcelona, but beating Mamelodi Sundowns is my biggest achievement'

Esperance de Tunis coach Miguel Cardoso has admitted that beating Mamelodi Sundowns is one of the greatest accomplishments of his career.&nbsp;Cardoso and his troops <a href="https://www.goal.com/en-za/lists/caf-champions-league-rhulani-mokwena-s-dream-shattered-as-wasteful-mamelodi-sundowns-bow-out-after-another-esperance-defeat/blt7928853845ac6f75" target="_blank">collected a hard-fought 1-0 win </a>over the Brazilians at Loftus Versfeld Stadium in the second leg of the Caf Champions League semi-finals.&nbsp;Humbly, Cardoso has now spoken of his pride at outclassing the South African champions in the Champions League both in Tunisia and in Pretoria.&nbsp;

WHAT HAPPENED?

"As a head coach, no doubt this is my biggest achievement. Because sometimes you don't have the chance to be in the right teams who can lead you to fight for something big," Cardoso told the media, as quoted by <a href="https://www.snl24.com/soccerladuma/international/african-football/esperance-boss-beating-downs-is-greatest-achievement-of-my-career-20240429" target="_blank">Soccer Laduma.&nbsp;</a>"Not every team plays to win, so sometimes your achievements don't have the face of trophies or titles. So, sometimes winning games is quite the achievement for some of the teams where you have passed.&nbsp;"I don't forget where I came from. I started 20-something years ago in FC Porto's youth team, I made my first steps over there with a lot of people I respect immensely," he continued.&nbsp;"I've had highs and I've had lows, but I try to keep myself stable through them all because, as I said before, I know that my family is there and that's what you need to progress. Honour your values, and your family, and enjoy the process."I'll tell you, I've already coached in Camp Nou against Barcelona, but I don't remember it because I was too concerned about what was happening on the pitch, even the days leading up to the game I don’t remember, and that is something I've changed a little bit."

WHAT WAS SAID

The Tunisian powerhouse ran out 2-0 winners on aggregate over the Rhulani Mokwena-led side to set a date with Egypt's Al-Ahly in the final.&nbsp;The 51-year-old tactician also managed to secure Esperance their place at next year's Fifa Club World Cup alongside Al Ahly, Masandawana, and Wydad Casablanca.&nbsp;

THE BIGGER PICTURE

The former FC Porto coach will be hoping to lift his first continental silverware when his team meets the 11-time Caf Champions League winners, Ahly.&nbsp;Esperance will face The Red Devils in the final with the first leg set to be played on May 18 in Tunisia before the return leg seven days later in Cairo.&nbsp;

WHAT'S NEXT FOR ESPERANCE?

Esperance boss Miguel Cardoso - 'I have coached in the Camp Nou against Barcelona, but beating Mamelodi Sundowns is my biggest achievement' | Goal.com South Africa

The Portuguese-born mentor was appointed head coach at the four-time African champions in January and he managed to guide the team to the finals. 

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