Cardoso Discusses Santos Before Impressive Return

Cardoso discussed Nuno Santos’s situation prior to his impressive return to the squad. Mamelodi Sundowns head coach Miguel Cardoso praised Santos for overcoming a challenging period away from the team, culminating in a match-winning performance against Al Ahli Jeddah. Santos returned to the starting line-up for the first time after being excluded from the squad in previous matches. Reports had circulated about the Portuguese midfielder being unsettled due to uncertainties surrounding his future.

Despite these distractions, Santos excelled on the field, scoring both goals in Sundowns' 2-1 victory over Al Ahli on Saturday, allowing the team to clinch the FIFA African-Asian-Pacific Cup 2026. He also earned the Man of the Match accolade. Cardoso revealed that the key decision to reinstate Santos was made after several discussions between them, which led to a noticeable improvement in Santos’s mindset.

"Sometimes we play cards, we expect them to go well and they go wrong; other times we play cards, and we have expectations to go well, and they go well. I always say we are not magicians, but sometimes we can make magic, and the players can do magic," Cardoso remarked.

He noted, "I think what happened today was that they embraced each other; Nuno had his moment. It was not an easy moment, and it’s not important to speak about it today. What is important is that he has a smile on his face today.

"And because he found that smile, I felt confident to put him to play— so I did give him an opportunity to play, to have a smile; he smiled, he embraced the team, he embraced the teammates."

Additionally, Cardoso shared that Santos had expressed a commitment to prioritize the team’s needs over his individual circumstances. "We had many talks, and he said, 'Coach, I will give the team what the team needs from me and it’s there I will prove that I am with the guys all the way.'"

For Sundowns, Santos's return couldn’t have been scripted better, as the victory against Al Ahli not only secured another piece of international silverware but also provided the midfielder with an impressive response upon returning to the starting XI.