JOHANNESBURG - Mamelodi Sundowns coach, Pitso Mosimane, has denied that they have assembled the best squad in the Absa Premiership this season.
The Brazilians have been one of the more enjoyable teams to watch in this campaign characterised by stalemates.
Sundowns have won the most games and scored the most goals in the league to sit atop the standings with a two point advantage. This in spite of their having played three games fewer than their rivals.
Mosimane’s men are on 22 points after 11 matches, while their closest rival is Orlando Pirates, who are second with 19 points after 14 league outings.
In spite of all these statistics, Mosimane believes that Sundowns' rivals possess more than enough quality to threaten their hegemony.
“Everyone has got top personnel. Pirates have top personnel ... they have top players. When we played them, they gave us tough times. They do have personnel," he said.
"Kaizer Chiefs have top personnel, Bidvest Wits also have top personnel. Don’t forget that it is the same team that won the league last season. SuperSport United have got very good personnel and that’s why they went to the final (of the Caf Confederation Cup),” Mosimane explained.
Sundowns have been dominant under his leadership in the last five years, winning six titles. They have won the league twice, the Nedbank Cup, the Telkom Knockout, the Caf Champions League and the Caf Super Cup.
“We play differently, we play the way Sundowns has to play. We want to pass the ball, we want to have triangles, we want to have passing patterns and we enjoy that. We want to be happy and you know when you want to play football as a player, they must get a reward.
“This is the brand that we will keep and as long as I’m around we will play like this. It is difficult to start playing from the back. It is risky when we build up but you have to do it if you have a good team.
"If you think you have a good team, you have to do it. That’s why you see the difference and other teams don’t like to do it. When the striker goes closer to the centre back they take it forward,” Mosimane said.
Sundowns have already lost three cups this season. They failed to defend their Champions League crown and bowed out of the MTN8 and the Telkom Knockout. They are left with the league and the Nedbank Cup.
“Everybody plays the way they play. If we are that good, why can’t we win all of our matches? It is not all about that,” Mosimane elaborated.
Chasing games
Sundowns have struggled at home this season. They have lost three of their last four matches. in their backyard, suffering defeats to all of Polokwane City, Kaizer Chiefs as well as AmaZulu
“I don’t know (why we keep losing at home). We are trying to find the solution. Hopefully, we broke the ice at home against Baroka last week. Hopefully, it will go the way we expect," he said in reference to their first home victory which saw them wallop Baroka FC 4-0 at the Lucas Moripe Stadium.
“Everybody expects to win at home under normal circumstances but the conditions are not the same. We know that it is always difficult at home because people reinforce their defence and we should be the aggressor.
“We end up being caught on the break but the good thing is that we are scoring early like we did (against Golden Arrows at Princess Magogo Stadium on Sunday),” he said.
Sundowns will host Maritzburg United at Loftus Versfeld on Wednesday at 7.30pm in a league clash.
“When we score first it helps us because the other team comes out and play. It is going to be the same (on Wednesday).
“Maritzburg United is an example of this. They hang in there and reinforce their defence and go out on the break.
“They are a good team. We are playing a team that is on form. They scored seven goals in two games.
“That's a rain of goals, hey, and they like to play against us. It is going to be a difficult one. We have to be careful of this match. If we score first, we should be fine,” Mosimane concluded.
Sundowns are unbeaten in their last five matches.