KOPPE OP

MAMELODI Sundowns coach Miguel Cardoso said his team could return to South Africa with their heads held high despite exiting the Club World Cup in the group stage on Wednesday.

Downs were held to a goalless draw by a very defensive Brazilian outfit Fluminense in their final Group F match in the US to finish third with four behind - three points behind group winners Borussia Dortmund and one behind Fluminense, who advanced to the last 16. 

Cardoso, though, is happy with his players’ effort and said: “Some teams came here and took nothing but Mamelodi Sundowns leave with a lot - we took four points, we lost just one game and we drew one game in which it was clear we had the best chances.”

That followed a 1-0 win against Ulsan HD of South Korea and a 4-3 loss to Dortmund. 

“For those who don’t know international football so well, I invite them to go and study Fluminense, Dortmund and Ulsan a little, and understand the level Sundowns played at during this Club World Cup.

“When we go out but set such a huge platform, you don’t go through but you take a lot, you take prestige, you value your players, you make your club even more well known in the world.

He added: “I know we have a strange name but we have a strong capacity. We have been showing good things for many years and now everyone in the world will talk about Mamelodi Sundowns because people like positive emotions.

“People like going home having seen an exciting game and we gave amazing emotions to people who like football.

“We are not happy, we had a clear objective for this match, but I am very proud of the level my players performed at.

“We leave and go home with our heads up because we are much stronger than we were when we came here.”

He added: “We competed until the last minute. It is always possible to do more. But will we sleep in peace tonight? Believe me we will. Job done, recognition obtained.”