Cardoso torn apart by former Mamelodi Sundowns skipper for making Masandawana 'play without purpose' - 'It is unfortunate... Miguel is losing it'

Mamelodi Sundowns last won the Caf Champions League in 2016 after beating Zamalek.

Since then, the best they have done is reach the semi-final despite the quality they possess.

However, this season, they looked destined to go all the way after getting to the final.

Things didn't work for Cardoso as anticipated; Pyramids claimed an aggregate 3-2 win to clinch their maiden Caf Champions League crown.

The majority of the people, including the fans, felt the Portuguese tactician failed to get his tactics right.

Cardoso lost the Nedbank Cup semi-final and ended up winning just the PSL.

Masandawana's ex-skipper Alex Bapela insists Cardoso has not added any value to the team.

“It’s unfortunate because, as a coach, you are judged by what you do. Cardoso came in and what did he do? He brought nothing new," he said as quoted by Sowetan.

"When he came in, Sundowns winning the league every season. When you get a coach, you need someone who is going to bring in something different from just winning the league.

“[Against Pyramids] we were like a team playing with no purpose. It looks like the line-up is cast in stone," Bapela continued.

“Most players were not consistent. To even think of putting [Lebo] Mothiba, I don’t know what we were doing really. We ended up with four attackers, but who was going to create for them? You needed Mshishi [Themba Zwane] there.

“Cardoso just got things wrong, and bit by bit, he is losing it. We are not convincing like we used to be, for us to be in the final, it took an own goal to be there. It's sad.

“It is shocking that he didn’t play Zwane. Big games like this need big players with big-match temperament. Are you doubting Mshishi?” he concluded.

The next stop for Cardoso will be in the United States, where 32 teams will be battling for the Fifa Club World Cup from June 14 to July 13.

Any struggles might lead to the firing of the 53-year-old by the unforgiving Masandawana management.