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Mamelodi Sundowns were knockout out of the Caf Champions League following<a href="https://www.goal.com/en-za/lists/caf-champions-league-rhulani-mokwena-s-dream-shattered-as-wasteful-mamelodi-sundowns-bow-out-after-another-esperance-defeat/blt7928853845ac6f75" target="_blank"> a 1-0 defeat by Esperance</a> in a semi-final, second leg match at Loftus Versfeld on FridayThey bow out of the continental tournament on a 2-0 aggregate defeat as they struggle to win the Champions League which they last claimed in 2016.GOAL gives you raw quotes from Sunmdowns coach Rhulani Mokwena and his Esperance counterpart Miguel Cardoso.<script type="application/json" data-placement="fcplayer-semantic">{"type":"fcplayer-semantic","data":{"embedCode":"//cdn.fcp.codes/embed-code-template/embed-code-template.js#SEMANTIC_5704afb8-c10b-4ba5-9cb4-d7fb6098ef90"}}</script>

Mamelodi Sundowns coach Mokwena opens up on decision to bench Themba Zwane and Thembinkosi Lorch in Caf Champions League defeat by Esperance - 'I was wrong'

In a match Masandawana needed experience, Mokwena surprisingly benched his captain Themba Zwane and Thembinkosi Lorch who came on from the bench after Esperance had already scored.It proved to be a costly mistake and the Sundowns coach defends his decision not to start his experienced men.“I speak [to the players], one of the most important things about what I’ve learnt from some of the many discussions and things that I read is how important communication is and I speak to the players a lot,” said Mokwena as per <a href="https://www.idiskitimes.co.za/caf-champions-league/mokwena-opens-up-on-surprise-zwane-lorch-decision/" target="_blank">iDiski Times</a>.&nbsp;“So I did speak to Lorch, I spoke to Mshishi, but I also spoke to Bongani Zungu because he also has just come back.&nbsp;“I spoke to Tashreeq because Tash played well and scored a goal last game but he’s been struggling with a stomach bug," the Masandawana coach continued.&nbsp;“I spoke to Thapelo Morena, who I thought even when he came on was very good today, he was good in the last game as well.“Modiba also has been playing well for us, so I had to speak to him. But I speak to them, I talk as much as I possibly can, I explain the reasons why – they don’t always have to agree with the reasons but they’ve got to respect the reasons because I’m the coach and I had to make the decisions.”

Why Zwane & Lorch were benched

The Brazilians' coach went on to admit the decisions he made backfired.“And sometimes I’m right and sometimes I’m wrong,” Mokwena said.“Unfortunately in this game of football, it’s the results that determine if you’re right or wrong and in this moment because we lost and we’re out of the Champions League I was wrong and I put up my hand I say ‘I was wrong and therefore I take the full responsibility for it’."

I was wrong, I take full responsibility

Mokwena is expecting a backlash from fans and is ready to stomach the anger. &nbsp;“It’s something that I have to shoulder as the leader," he said."I can’t hide, no chance and of course face the scrutiny and the negative reactions that will come after.&nbsp;&nbsp;“And that’s only normal because of the nature of this business.”

Expecting negative reactions

Esperance coach Cardoso admits this was his toughest assignment ever as he showered praise on Sundowns' strength.“It was rather difficult to prepare for this game, probably the most difficult game I ever played, because Sundowns is an unbelievable team,” Cardoso said.“To compete in the right way, we had to use a tactical approach that would allow us to close as much as possible the spaces, the individual quality, the tactical variance that we could see on the pitch.”&nbsp;

Most difficult game ever against unbelievable Downs

Cardoso explains how they lost time to prepare for Friday's game but they still went on to get it right.“Yesterday [Thursday], I had a meeting at 2 o’clock in the afternoon, we almost had no time to practice between the two games, with the sleep and we didn’t know if someone was watching our training, so we didn’t make any big tactical work,” he said.“But we had a couple of meetings scheduled, and we had a meeting at 2 o’clock and I cancelled it. I was not ready to tell the players how we should start the game – I had to sit with some of them and discuss.“And that’s how we started this game, tactical, together me and some of the players, we discussed it and then in the night after dinner,” Cardoso added.“I took the afternoon to prepare that meeting, that was the moment I presented to players how we should start the game, knowing that it will be a big crusade let’s say.”

No time to train, but still prevailed

Mamelodi Sundowns coach Mokwena opens up on decision to bench Themba Zwane and Thembinkosi Lorch in Caf Champions League defeat by Esperance - 'I was wrong' | Goal.com South Africa

The Brazilians agonisingly reeled out of the tournament they had prioritised and will have to try against next season

Mamelodi Sundowns coach Mokwena opens up on decision to bench Themba Zwane and Thembinkosi Lorch in Caf Champions League defeat by Esperance - &apos;I was wrong&apos;

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