Miguel Cardoso (Trofa, Portugal, 1972) is the helmsman of one of the animators of the Club World Cup. An 'outsider' like Mamelodi Sundowns, South African champion who was able to overcome Ulsan on the first day and gave war in a tight result against Borussia Dortmund. A classification will be played that would be historical against Fluminense. But the result will be less important than the pride of being faithful to a style.
This team is known as the 'Brazilians', something that goes beyond a shirt that, indeed, reminds of the 'Canarinha'. Mamelodi has developed an unnegotiable philosophy called 'Shine & Piano', which is a word and intentions game. The 'luster' or 'shine' represents the short, fast and precise touch between players, as if they were giving billo with the ball movement. While the piano is the elegant, creative and fluid rhythm of the team, as if they were interpreting a harmonic melody.
In summary, Mamelodi is a team without complexes that bets on colorful, technical and possession football, as their statistics from the first days, in which it has met the expectations generated. For your coach, cardoso, The experience is also a lustrous path that has allowed him to gain titles after years of selfless work in Europe (Celta, Ave River, Nantes, Aek …). Therefore, it will not return in the short term, because now it has to disfuture the whistle (meaning of the name of the Club in the Tswana language) of Mamelodi.
How does Miguel Cardoso arrive in South Africa and Mamelelodi Sundowns? You decided to break everything you had in Europe
They have been extraordinary years, but I decided to take a turn to Africa and chose Tunis's Spanish, another team that is in the Club World Cup, precisely thanks to reaching the Final of the CAF Champions League in Africa. We already had contacts with Mamelodi Sundowns, so when they changed coach, the opportunity to go there arose. We are glad we moved to South Africa. Last season everything went out to ask from Boca: we won the League and we reached another Champions Final. It was an extraordinary season at all levels. We beat all the records of the team: more goals marked, points … It was the first time that all the meetings were won. Too bad to have lost the final against Pyramids. We fit a goal at home at the last minute that he tasted to us. It was a disappointment, but ten years ago Mamelodi was not in a continental final.
So the Club World Cup is the reward for the work of recent times …
This participation began in the best possible way. He had never won Mamelodi a match in a World Cup, he hadn't even scored a goal. We did everything against Ulsan. We made history with this club.
According to the data released by FIFA, Mamelodi completed in the first game against Ulsan 658 passes through the 274 of the Korean team. Straight to the 'top' of the competition, but something that is not an anecdote much less. What is the 'Shine & Piano', a game rooted in the club's history?
It is a philosophy of prominence, of having the ball, of controlling the game. We are a team that wants to control the game with the ball. Sometimes I try to be more realistic, more pragmatic, but they don't leave me. They want to be themselves … They tell me that I am like the Mamelodi Guardiola. And they want that kind of game very much. Guardiola also adapts over time, but we have a very strong identity. Sundowns wants the “shoe to shine”: play talent and be protagonists. It is a big challenge, because at this level, as in the African Champions or the World Cup, football has another dimension. You have to adapt.
How do you face the group's outcome after making your face against Borussia and see Fluminense as the 'final boss'?
I have faith, but at work. The rivals are very strong. We are playing against teams that dominate world football. Fluminense is elite of Brazil, which is dominating this Club World Cup. We know it will be difficult, but also beautiful. Our challenge is to grow with these experiences, make us stronger for the future. We are not going to change who we are. We want to compete with our identity and put ourselves to the limit of our capabilities to live up to it.
Why call Mamelodi “the Brazilians”?
It has more to do with the style of play, but also with the colors of the uniform.
The 'Shine and Piano' style is a philosophy of prominence, to have the ball, to control the game. We are a team that wants to control the game with the ball. Sometimes I try to be more realistic, more pragmatic, but they don't leave me
What is it like to live in South Africa?
It is fabulous. It is a highly developed country, with a very high quality of life. We have little free time because we play every 3 or 4 days. We spend a lot of time in hotels, preparing matches. But when we can, we have encountered very kind people. They are cheerful and outgoing. For them, football is a party. Even if it is lost, the players dance at the end of the game and the fans sing all the time. The rivalry between teams is fed by this spirit. It is a fantastic experience. Very different from Tunisia, which was an Arab country, with a more closed culture, but also very enriching personnel and professional.
To what extent does the 'outsiders' like Mamelelodi prosper in the World Cup? You know better than anyone what the forecasts is to knock down, as you demonstrated in that unforgettable panties that consolidated in Europe.
For Sundowns, this experience will be marked forever. It is not common to live something like that. But one works for a goal, and when the road ends, it must be at peace with everything he did to achieve it. Now we want to win, advance, add points, take advantage of the energy of the first game. Play our game and in the end be at peace. Grow and look forward.
And if we look back, what do you remember of the short and complicated stage in Celta? You were 14 games in a season where 'In Extremis' was achieved.
I remember the experience with a lot of saudade and positive emotions. The stage in Celta marked me deeply. I continue to cross with people from Galicia, especially from Vigo, who reminds me with love. Unfortunately, we had bad luck with Iago Aspas injury, for example. The same with Lobotka. But people know how to make Celta play well and we largely achieve it. I feel Celtist at heart. I understood very quickly the values of the club and the love that all Galicia has for him. I still have contact with Celtic players. This week I sent a message to Hugo Mallo. I was with him in Brazil when I played there. That mutual respect shows that our coaching staff was accepted and left good memory.
The stage in Celta marked me deeply. I continue to cross with people from Galicia, especially from Vigo, who reminds me with love. They know that I wanted to play the team well and, to a large extent, we did it. I feel celtist at heart
It was also very difficult when you accompanied Sunday patience in Deportivo in 2012.
With Deportivo it was a very difficult stage. I think I arrived at the worst moment. The club was totally unstructured. We had no room to help the team. But outside the Celtic-Dépor rivalry, it hurts to see that Deportivo has not yet managed to get out of the crisis. It is a club with an incredible hobby. They continue to support him in low divisions. They deserve the best. I miss Spanish football. It is very high quality, with good juguer, coaches and competent teams …
At this point, as the leader of a different and exciting project like Mamelodi, what asks the life of Miguel Cardoso?
The most important thing for me now is that football does not steal everything I have. I want to get to the time when I can say “enough” and live more with my family. I am still very passionate about football, but there are many more things: music, nature, walks, friends … life has given me financial stability, but I paid a price: not having time. Now I want to live more, sometimes living is not having free time, but living football in different contexts, with different cultures, different music, different meals. That is already living. I want to convey that to my family, and when the time comes, stop and enjoy everything that life offers.
And at a professional level, what did you feel that you were missing when you decided to leave Europe?
In recent years I was in good clubs, but I had never won trophies. Now I won them. Collective and individual titles. It was something I wanted. That my investment as a coach had an answer, not others, but mine. And that is already achieved. Now I want to enjoy the trip and be as happy as possible.