Miguel Cardoso labels Raja Casablanca clash decisive

The Brazilians take on their North African rivals tomorrow night eager to secure the three points that will edge them closer to a place in the quarter-finals, with two more games to follow after that. 

Cardoso, whose first win as Sundowns coach came against Raja at Loftus Stadium last month, describes the clash as “decisive”. 

"It's an important one, obviously, for both teams, we are entering the last round so decisive moments are approaching, and we know the responsibility of the games," said Cardoso.

"We studied Raja very well, it's the second time we are playing against them, so despite the change of coaches, we had the proper approach in the preparations for the match.

"We had a long trip, but we are very comfortable away so we feel that we are in the right moment to face this opponent that we respect – it's two big teams playing against one another in a huge country of football.

"But we also know what we came for, and we also know our capacity, qualities, and what we want to do, and we'll do our best to get the best result we can."

With Hafid Abdessadek appointed caretaker coach, following the sacking of Ricardo Sa Pinto since their last meeting last month, Cardoso was asked whether the change would sway the encounter in his side’s favour.

"When we are at the level we are at, with teams and players at the level that Raja and Sundowns have, there are no problems that affect the moment when we're going to play," he argued.

"So no one should think that the fact that Raja have changed their coach will affect whatever it has to do with the will of the players to do their jobs, but also nothing changes to how we will do things because we focus on what we see and what we want to do.

"We believe we can have a wonderful game, and obviously we know who we are playing against, but the level of respect we should have for any opponent is also the level of respect we should have for ourselves."

READ: Game management key ito Cardoso’s perfect Sundowns start