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Pitso Mosimane says it is unthinkable to expect Mamelodi Sundowns to win the CAF Champions League every year.
Downs won the continental tournament for the first time in 2016 and were eliminated in the quarter-finals by Al Ahly this season, having made it to the semi-finals in the previous campaign.
Mosimane likened the difficulty of the competition to that of the UEFA Champions League, saying it takes more than just tactics to win.
The Brazilians boss told the Sowetan: "There is nothing like we have to win the Champions League.
"If you say that we have to win it‚ what are you saying to Bayern Munich‚ Paris Saint-Germain who have Kylian Mbappe and Neymar‚ Manchester City who have spent a lot of money‚ Liverpool who have the attack of Sadio Mane‚ Roberto Firmino and Mohamed Salah or Barcelona who have Lionel Messi‚ Luis Suarez and them."
He added: "Al Ahly have gone about five to six years without winning it - it has been a while since Wydad won it‚ Zamalek have not won it in the last five years but they are in the semifinals now.
"How long did it take SA to win the Champions League after Orlando Pirates? It took 20-odd years. In Europe‚ Barcelona have not won the Champions League in a while‚ it is the same with Juventus and PSG and Man City with the money they have spent they have not won it.
"It's more than tactics - you need crucial moments to go your way. I will make an example of the ball deflecting from the foot of Wayne Arendse and falling for Ali Maaloul to score in Cairo [when Sundowns lost the first leg of their quarter against Ahly in February]. It was a big moment in the game against Al Ahly and what are you going to do about it? You cant blame the ball for deflecting."
Mosimane added that Sundowns will always believe they can win the trophy and will try again next term.
"We have to give it another go next season. If you ask Juve‚ Barca‚ Real Madrid‚ Man City‚ Liverpool if they want to win it they will say 'yes' - all of them," he said.
- TEAMtalk media
