Miguel Cardoso admits Lucas Ribeiro 'would have helped' Mamelodi Sundowns against Golden Arrows and declares 'Nuno Santos and Miguel Reisinho' cannot replace the Brazilian forward

Mamelodi Sundowns' head coach Miguel Cardos believes Lucas Ribeiro would have helped the defending Premier Soccer League champions avoid a defeat against Golden Arrows.

The tactician said his former forward was able to help a lot because he was capable of unblocking high defensive lines like the one deployed by Arrows.

"No player will substitute Lucas because that's not what we are looking for. We are not looking to substitute Lucas; we are looking to reinforce the team that is completely different," Cardoso told the media.

"Every player has their own characteristics, and neither Nuno nor Miguel Reisinho has the characteristics that Lucas has. He is a very particular player. But also, the other ones are very particular, and the ones we have in the club are also very particular," he added.

"Sundowns will develop to be a different team, probably more collective even than it was in the past, because Lucas was a player who could solve problems alone, and in this kind of game like today, he probably would help a lot because sometimes we were blocked, and he's capable of finding them.

However, Cardoso believes it is time to move on because Ribeiro is gone and no one will replace him.

"But we are not already relating with Lucas; for us, he is a wonderful memory, a good friend, but he's past. So, the team and us coaches, we don't really relate to the past," he added.

"We just need to understand how capable we are of welcoming everybody, of getting the best from each player, and of developing the team in that sense. So, that's what we want, and that's what we are doing, and that's what we are going to do."

In a bid to strengthen their squad after Ribeiro left, Sundowns have added Nuno Santos and Miguel Reisinho to the squad.

Although Sundowns have made a number of signings, not only to strengthen the playing unit but also to try and fill the void left by Ribeiro, the Tshwane giants will miss the services that the Brazilian forward alone was able to offer.

Ribeiro was a pivotal figure as Sundowns defended the league title last season, and he went ahead to win the Golden Boot and the PSL Player of the Season, highlighting how key he was in the successful campaign.

Sundowns' focus is on their next game against Richards Bay on September 27.

Their objective is clear: beat Richards Bay and return to winning ways after losing their first game of the season on Wednesday.