Peter Shalulile: Champions League a different ball game

The Brazilians have continued to dominate the PSL with seven successive titles but have found it challenging on the continent.

As Downs take on Esperance de Tunis in the quarter-finals of the Champions League this afternoon at Loftus Stadium, Shalulile tells CAF TV they are confident this season could be different.

However, the Namibian international admits there are no guarantees.

"To be honest, in the league itself, we always say it's dog-eat-dog because in the league it's different the Champions League. It has been a really difficult four years when I was here chasing Champions League and it's a different ball game the fact that there it’s the best of the best and we got there few times but we didn't make it but it was difficult. Eventually this year, I foresee great things happening," Shalulile said.

Sundowns did win the Champions League in 2016, long before Shalulile’s time at the club. But he insists being unable to repeat that feat does not make the current group “bad players”.

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"With top players that are here, not reaching the final ever since 2016 doesn't mean you are a bad player or a bad group, it just means it's a process because everything has a process in life and getting there this year, it's possible and making it happen it's also possible," he added.

Shalulile adds that the players do not allow the expectations to win the Champions League again overwhelm them.

"We do not play with weights on ourselves because the more you play with weight you won't give your A game. You take every match as other matches because you have nothing to prove to people, all you need to do is to [focus] on the goals that you have set and when you set goals you go for them despite anything around that.

“As a group, we've set goals and we keep on following them and we keep on achieving them also."