Bernard Parker hints at mindset issue behind Mamelodi Sundowns slip in title race

Sundowns went down 3-2 to Galaxy at Mbombela Stadium, a result that not only dented their title push but also sparked debate after coach Miguel Cardoso pointed to a congested fixture list as the reason behind the loss.

Parker, however, views such explanations as part of the psychological battle in football — and believes elite teams should embrace pressure rather than point to scheduling challenges.

Speaking to SNAWA on Metro FM, the former Bafana Bafana striker implied that mentality often shapes post-match narratives.

"This is what football is about. There are no excuses at this level," Parker said.
Without directly accusing his counterpart, Parker hinted that results tend to influence the storylines coaches choose to lean on.

"If the result was different, maybe the conversation would be different too. That's the nature of the game," he added.

Drawing comparisons with European heavyweights like Real Madrid, Barcelona and Manchester City, Parker stressed that competing on multiple fronts is part of elite football — and managing it is a requirement, not an exception.

He also pointed to Galaxy's own situation as proof, revealing that his side had to navigate four matches in 10 days with a thin squad, turning to development players to get over the line.