Al-Hilal Club coach Ricardo Formosinho has praised the Mamelodi Sundowns’ style of play after the teams drew 0-0 in their CAF Champions League group stage clash this past weekend.
The Sudanese and South African giants played out a goalless stalemate in Omdurman, after which Sundowns co-coach Rulani Mokwena praised the effect that Formosinho – a former assistant to Jose Mourinho – has had at Al-Hilal Club since taking charge last month.
Ricardo Formosinho has worked with Jose Mourinho at Tottenham Hostpur. (Photo by Tottenham Hotspur FC/Tottenham Hotspur FC via Getty Images)
“First‚ let us also give huge congratulations to coach Ricardo [Formosinho] and his team. It’s fantastic that Africa can recruit coaches of his calibre‚ with his technical staff‚” Mokwena said in the post-match press conference.
“[They have] huge experience. A lot of quality and working at the highest level. So we knew‚ watching videos and getting data that the team had improved a lot within the few weeks.”
Mowkena added, “And once more congratulations to coach Ricardo and his technical staff – huge improvement from what we played against before [Sundowns beat the Sudan Premier League leaders 2-0 at Pretoria in February].”
Formosinho returned the praise‚ highlighting the technical and tactical flexibility.
“Congratulations because you [Mokwena] play your team like the big teams in England‚” he said‚ addressing Mokwena.
“Your movement‚ your wingers coming inside‚ your strikers from behind – congratulations! Perfect. Like Tottenham‚ like Liverpool [were] before. Your team plays like the big teams in England.
“It’s the movement like the big teams‚ like Jurgen Klopp and Jose Mourinho. You can see‚ the striker comes back and opens the space.”
The teams will wrap up their group stage campaigns in the CAF Champions League this coming Friday, on April 9th, with Sundowns at home to Algeria’s CR Belouizdad and Al-Hilal Club visiting DR Congo’s TP Mazembe.
