The Mamelodi Sundowns coach, Rhulani Mokwena, discussed the team’s strategy following their heartbreaking exit from the CAF Champions League at the hands of Wydad Casablanca. Despite not losing a single game, the team was forced to reevaluate their defensive style to minimize conceding goals in future competitions. Mokwena emphasized the need for a more aggressive style of defending, drawing comparisons to successful global teams and their defensive characters such as Manchester United’s Roy Keane and Liverpool’s Jamie Carragher.
He expressed the team’s aspirations to consistently feature in the semi-finals and quarter-finals of the Champions League, highlighting the importance of adapting to the competition’s rules, particularly the away goals rule. The coach acknowledged the impact of their previous season’s Champions League loss on the team’s defensive strategy, emphasizing the need to prioritize keeping clean sheets and preventing goals. While striving to maintain their playing style, Mokwena stressed the importance of adapting to improve their defensive performance based on the lessons learned from their previous competition experience.