Miguel Cardoso Explains Tactical Substitution of Lucas Suarez
Mamelodi Sundowns head coach Miguel Cardoso has shed light on his decision to substitute Lucas Suarez with Thapelo Morena during their recent match. The tactical substitution was made to bring freshness and speed to the team’s defense while maintaining quality in their build-up play.
Suarez, who has been on loan from CA Tallares since the start of the season, was struggling to cope with the pace and physicality of Evidence Makgopa. The Argentine midfielder was directly involved in both goals conceded by Sundowns in the opening five minutes, which put his team on the back foot.
Despite his struggles, Cardoso highlighted Suarez’s contribution to the team’s distribution and control of the pace of their build-up play. The coach praised Suarez’s ability to dictate the tempo of the game and provide quality passes to his teammates.
However, with the scoreline not in their favor, Cardoso decided to make a tactical substitution to change the dynamics of the game. He brought on Thapelo Morena to replace Suarez, aiming to inject freshness and speed into the team’s defense.
“The thinking was that… also coach Riveiro was making substitutions to have freshness, to deal with these quick attacks, to impose, to threaten us, to search for goals, and having a fresh player would give us a fresher, quicker player in defense,” Cardoso explained.
Cardoso’s decision to substitute Suarez was not taken lightly. He wanted to bring in a player who could provide quality and speed in defense while also allowing Sundowns to maintain their attacking threat.
Morena’s introduction was intended to provide a fresh perspective and new energy to the team’s defense.
However, Cardoso admitted that the team didn’t utilize Morena effectively after his introduction.
Sundowns failed to quickly switch the point of attack from one side of the pitch to the other, which limited their attacking opportunities in the second half.
“I think we were not very clever using Thapelo because during the second half, after he went in, we weren’t very quick in changing from one side to the other side of the pitch
. That’s also why I said we lost capacity to think in the last ten minutes,” Cardoso said.
Despite the disappointment, Cardoso remains optimistic about his team’s chances. He believes that the substitution was a necessary gamble to try and change the course of the game. By making a single substitution, Cardoso aimed to achieve two objectives: bringing freshness and speed to the defense while maintaining quality in the team’s build-up play.
The decision to substitute Suarez was also influenced by the opposition’s substitutions. Cardoso wanted to respond to the changes made by the opposing coach and adapt to the new dynamics of the game.
“Instead of taking out a centre-back for centre-back, taking out full-back for full-back, with one substitution we got what we wanted, with quality,” Cardoso explained.
The 29-year-old Suarez has featured nine times for Sundowns, scoring once, since his season-long loan from CA Tallares. The Argentine midfielder has been an important player for Sundowns, providing creativity and vision in midfield.
As the season progresses, Cardoso will continue to make tactical decisions to get the best out of his players. The substitution of Suarez was a calculated risk, and while it didn’t pay off, it demonstrates Cardoso’s willingness to adapt and try new things.
In the world of football, tactical substitutions can make all the difference. Cardoso’s decision to substitute Suarez may not have yielded the desired result, but it showcases his tactical acumen and ability to think on his feet.
As Sundowns look to bounce back from their disappointing result, Cardoso will be hoping that his team can learn from their mistakes and improve their performance. With the right tactics and player selection, Sundowns can get back to winning ways and achieve their goals for the season.