Mamelodi Sundowns' Miguel Cardoso pleads with critics despite mounting scepticism - 'It’s important to pass a message to the outside to give peace and support to Masandawana'

Mamelodi Sundowns head coach Miguel Cardoso has stated that the Premier Soccer League defending champions be given peace at the time they are trying to get their campaign on track.

Masandawana returned to winning ways in the league after a 1-0 win over Stellenbosch on Saturday, a game that also saw Peter Shalulile break a PSL goals record.

“I think that we should’ve scored more than one goal in the first half. We thought we still had that capacity, but we wanted to win the ball in the front in the right way," Cardoso told SuperSport TV.

“With the absence of Arthur (Sales), we could not really find that connection. We brought Jayden (Adams) a little bit higher than usual, trying to find those connections. But the emotional reaction from Stellenbosch was good as expected, and we gave ourselves a fantastic result," he added.

“It’s important to pass a message to the outside to give peace to the team. This team needs peace, needs support, and the true Mamelodi Sundowns fans should support the team.

“Look at the table; look where we are after five matches, after playing away at Stellenbosch and away at Kaizer Chiefs. We didn’t lose; we keep winning, and we are very well."

Cardoso has been a man under pressure and criticism following Sundowns' lacklustre start to the 2025-26 season.

Matters got worse for him when Orlando Pirates eliminated them from the MTN8 at the semi-final stage.

Overall performance by his players has also been criticised, with some pundits saying they will face it rough this time round as they fight to defend the title.

After the hard-fought win over Stellenbosch, their focus now shifts to the next game against Marumo Gallants on September 17.

Otherwise, they have the FIFA international break to restrategise before getting back to action in mid-September.