Mamelodi Sundowns coach Miguel Cardoso realistic ahead of Borussia Dortmund clash

Sundowns, who edged South Korea's Ulsan HD 1-0 in their opening fixture, currently top the group. The remaining fixture between Dortmund and the Betway Premiership champions is set to take place at TQL Stadium in the United States on Saturday.

A victory for the Brazilians will seal a direct spot in the knockout phase, while a win for the Bundesliga side will throw Group F wide open.

In his pre-match remarks, Cardoso struck a realistic tone about the quality of opposition his side will face.

"Sometimes I am accused of being negative. It's not exactly that. I am just very realistic regarding these things. I'm not afraid to tell things how they are," Cardoso said, as quoted by Afrik-Foot ZA.

The Portuguese tactician went on to highlight how fine margins often decide results in matches involving elite clubs.

"You look at Botafogo - Brazilian champions and last year's Libertadores winners. They had only 28% ball possession against PSG. That kind of result may happen once out of ten times. Normally, the stronger team asserts its dominance."

However, Cardoso believes belief and emotion can produce surprises.

"Outliers happen when the mental conviction of a team is strong. When the emotional connection is deep, magic can happen," he explained.

"That is the atmosphere I am trying to create in our squad - ambition, determination, and belief."

Despite acknowledging the challenge Dortmund pose, Cardoso was quick to defend his squad's quality.

"Whether we play two, three, or five more games in this competition, my players are high-quality professionals. Everyone in the structure around the team operates at a very high level."

As Sundowns prepare for one of their toughest Club World Cup assignments yet, Cardoso remains grounded - but hopeful that with the right mindset, an upset is possible.