Pitso Mosimane, Mamelodi Sundowns, August 2018

Pitso Mosimane: Mamelodi Sundowns won't park the bus in Casablanca

Mamelodi Sundowns may have only recently brushed aside Golden Arrows in the MTN8, but Sundowns coach Pitso Mosimane has already shifted focus.

Masandawana are set to resume their Caf Champions League campaign this coming weekend with an encounter against defending champions Wydad Casablanca.

Once again, Sundowns will find themselves on the backfoot as they travel to Wydad’s fortress in Casablanca looking to keep their hopes of progression into the next round alive.

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“I don’t think that Wydad will give you an opportunity for an all-out attack,” a wary Mosimane was quoted as saying by the club’s website.

“They are a big team, they are a strong team. You will see a sea of red in the stands. You know the story,” he added.

“They will push us back. We need to be compact. We need to be smart. We can get a few breaks. You don’t get many opportunities there. But Sundowns always gets one or two chances to score,” Mosimane added.

While it has not been the best of campaigns by Sundowns' standards, their recent win over AS Togo-Port has breathed new life into their mission.

“We need to manage that. If we don’t win, get a draw. But we mustn’t sit back and park the bus, we must play because they know that we can play. They saw it here that we pushed them,” he said.

“They respect us. I need to get the right balance in midfield for that match. I need tigers for that match, people who will grind to get a result. It might not look pretty but we must keep going and probing,” he added.

Mosimane though, will not be too down if Sundowns fail to walk away from Morocco with all three points, rather suggesting that it will all come down to the Horoya clash.

“If you get three points, then you’ll be happy. One might also be enough because we have to sort out Horoya here in our last game,” Mosimane explained.

“That game is a do-or-die. We must beat Horoya here or otherwise in means we must win in Casablanca,” he expressed.

“The Togolese might do us a favour by causing an upset and holding Horoya to a draw because I don’t think they’ll win. It’s tough in Guinea,” Mosimane warned.

Sundowns are no strangers to facing off against the Moroccan giants having previously clashed in last year’s competition and this will be the fourth meeting between the two sides.

“Wydad are a difficult team. They know how to manage the game. They play cleverly. You must be careful of penalties,” he continued.

“They are very good in set-pieces. We conceded a goal from a corner kick the last time we played them. When the time favours them they delay the game,” Mosimane said.

“They do anything. You know the North Africans. The Champions League is a different cattle of fish. It’s an awkward tournament. But we know how to play it. It has its problems with travelling,” Mosimane concluded.

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What should Percy Tau do next?

  • 24%Stick with Al Ahly
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