Al Hilal coach Joao Motta has slammed his players for losing 4-2 to a Mamelodi Sundowns team that plays “simple football” in the CAF Champions League over the weekend.Motta blamed the loss on his players’ poor mentality despite having the numerical advantage for more than 80 minutes following the sending off of Kenyan international Brian Mandela.4️⃣ Goals scored & top spot in Group 🅰️ secured! 🔝Al Hilal (56′ Mozamil, 90+2′ Eltayib) 2️⃣➖4️⃣ Mamelodi Sundowns (2′ Shalulile, 30′ Mokoena, 60′, 89′ Morena) #Sundowns #DownsLive #TotalEnergiesCAFCL pic.twitter.com/xyYJncp0jg— Mamelodi Sundowns FC (@Masandawana) March 19, 2022 In a post-match interview, the Portuguese further revealed that he is not afraid of the axe, adding that he was on a mission to transform the club to perform better and saw no logic in sacking the coach after every setback. Dan Ngulu: Ulinzi Stars needs fresh leadership and management strategy“It was not a happy day at all because we suffered a severe loss to an opponent who plays simple football. Everyone was chanting my name in the final training session. I also received a number of encouraging messages from Al Hilal fans. [Now] some want to have me sacked. You have to change your mentalities. I am here to develop Al Hilal’s performance. What is the benefit of sacking the coach after every setback? I go spend time with my family and enjoy [at home] then find another opportunity at another club,” he is quoted saying by Sudan Telegraph. AFCON2023: Somalia, South Sudan in action as preliminary round kicks offHis counterpart on the winning side, Rulani Mokoena said that playing with 10 men after Mandela’s red card made the game more difficult for his side, heaping praises on his charges for showing great character to win the game.11′ RED CARD! Brian Onyango receives his marching orders after a last-man foul.#Sundowns #DownsLive #TotalEnergiesCAFCL— Mamelodi Sundowns FC (@Masandawana) March 19, 2022 The Kenyan defender has been very instrumental in Mamelodi Sundowns’ CAF Champions League run, helping them keep a clean sheet in every group match that he has played the full length.“What made it even more difficult was having to play most of the match with one man down, this made the game very very difficult for our team, but instead of complaining we got on with the business, we showed respect for our badge and for our nation, and played the game the way it was supposed to be played. What helped us win was the Players attitude, we just have a very good group of players and a very good group of players with good attitude. We knew that we had to deal with [Mohamed] Ouattara’s diagonal balls, [Ibrahim] Mustapha’s speed, Abdulrahman is always a threat in and around the box, [Abdul] Ajagun in between the lines is creative and creates a lot of possibilities for them to score but we were prepared and the players showed great spirit and great tactical discipline, all the credit goes to our players,” Mokoena told the club’s portal.
