Sundowns coach warns 'Nine wins don't mean title secured'

Sundowns moved back to the top of the DStv Premiership table with a 4-1 victory over Chippa United at Loftus Versfeld on Good Friday, edging two points ahead of Orlando Pirates, who had hammered TS Galaxy 6-0 before the international break.

But Cardoso warned that past results count for little if the team loses focus. "Very important (to win nine consecutive games) but not enough. We need to look forward and continue to collect wins, because if we sit on what we did, for sure we will not arrive where we need to arrive," he said.

The Sundowns boss stressed the team must concentrate on their next fixture against Durban City on Tuesday before turning their attention to the CAF Champions League semi-final first leg against Esperance Sportive de Tunis.

"So next match, let's try to go to Durban, make a job similar to what we have been doing, not worrying about how many goals or wins. I don't even think about that, because it takes you to a spot or place that gives you nothing," Cardoso explained.

He added: "If we want to be champions, we need to make a good series of victories in the matches we still have. There will be no space for many points dropped. So focus is now the Durban match, then Champions League, then back to the league. We must add more victories to this nine-win run."

Sundowns travel to Durban on Monday and will fly directly to Tunis after the league clash for the first leg against Taraji.