Full-strength Sundowns would have beaten Esperance – Pitso

Sundowns suffered a huge blow in their bid to retain the Caf Champions League title on Friday, losing 2-1 in Atteridgeville.

The Tunisians have now opened up a two-point lead at the top of Group C.

“If I had a full team here, you could never come out of Pretoria, you’d get three goals against you here,” Mosimane told Benzarti.

“It is unfortunate that we couldn’t put out a full-strength team. I ended up playing Thapelo Morena as a striker. That was the best I could do because if you looked at the bench, there was nobody who could play forward. But it is okay, we will have enough time, hopefully we can at least get one attacker back,” he added.

Masandawana travel to Tunisia for their next Champions League match on June 21, and Mosimane has sent out a strong message ahead of the clash.

“We can beat this team, even in Tunisia. We only wish we had a strong team to play them. It is a bitter pill to swallow, but it is okay, we have to go through this, it is part of football,” he said.

However, Benzarti thinks otherwise: “It will be difficult, if you (Sundowns) cannot win here, I don’t think you can win in Tunisia. I think Sundowns can get good results outside Pretoria, but not against our team.”

Mosimane has been missing the likes of Hlompho Kekana, Anthony Laffor and Khama Billiat, just to name a few players.

On Friday, defender Motjeka Madisha added to the club’s growing list of injuries after he limped off just before half-time.