In defeat, Mamelodi Sundowns players can still hold their heads high.
This is the view of Borussia Dortmund midfielder Jobe Bellingham, whose side beat Sundowns 4-3 in their FIFA Club World Cup encounter in Cincinnati on Saturday.
While it is indeed true that praising a defeated team does not change the scoreline in their favour, Bellingham reckons Sundowns can use this as motivation for the future.
“It was a tough game and an important win against a really good opposition. They [Sundowns] can be proud of themselves, especially given the weather conditions,” Bellingham, who was Man of the Match, told DAZN.
“That’s something new for us, something we need to get used to,” added Bellingham, whose elder brother, Jude, plays for Real Madrid.
Sundowns will have to show the same fighting spirit against Fluminense on Wednesday, 25 June. A win for the Tshwane side will see them reach the Last 16 round, and the team’s head coach, Miguel Cardoso, says they can build on the performance against Dortmund.
“This was a hell of an experience for the players. We grew a lot from this match. We can compete. We showed that we are on the pitch and we are not afraid,” said the Portuguese mentor.
“We were brave enough and took them to the limit. Today, we got a lot of respect from the world. I already heard that Dortmund will remember this match for a long time, and that is absolutely beautiful for me.”
