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'There have been two or three players on him, making his job more difficult,' said the Sundowns head coach.
Lucas Ribeiro last scored for Mamelodi Sundowns about a month and a half ago. Picture: Phakamisa Lensman/BackpagePix
Mamelodi Sundowns head coach Miguel Cardoso believes Brazilian forward Lucas Ribeiro is not having as much of an impact at the moment because he is being targeted by opposing teams.
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But the Masandawana mentor also says it is only a matter of time before the 26 year-old explodes like a tomato ketchup bottle.
Ribeiro has 16 goals and 11 assists in 40 appearances for Sundowns this season. But he last scored on March 5 in a 1-1 Betway Premiership draw with Golden Arrows.
His last assist came just six days later, in a 2-0 Premiership win over AmaZulu.
Cardoso says he sees teams focusing more on man-marking Ribeiro. This is ever since his side’s 4-1 Premiership hammering of Orlando Pirates on February 8. Cardoso also mentioned their 1-0 Premiership win over Kaizer Chiefs on March 1.
In the Pirates game, Ribeiro scored twice and assisted a goal for Teboho Mokoena. In the Chiefs game, the Brazilian scored a wonderful individual strike for the only goal of the match.
“I think it is important to say that after Lucas scored goals against Pirates and Chiefs, it is clear all teams have worried so much about closing him down,” said Cardoso, after Sundowns’ goalless draw with Al Ahly in their Caf Champions League semifinal first leg at Loftus Stadium on Saturday.
“There have been two or three players on him, making his job more difficult.
“You don’t see him free in the team any more. It is important the team understands that with two or three players on him, there are other spaces on the pitch that should be used. And for him if he is pressed so much he must release the ball early and let others play, then position himself to find space.”
Cardoso is certain Ribeiro will soon bounce back to his best.
“I am sure Lucas will be like when you pick up a ketchup bottle and you hit it and more comes out than was supposed to. It will happen naturally.”
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Sundowns and their fans will hope that moment can arrive as early as Friday. Masandawana travel to Cairo to take on Al Ahly in the second leg.
The Brazilians will be underdogs at the Cairo International Stadium. But if Sundowns can score first it will turn the tie right on its head.
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