Mendes Discusses Progress, Injuries, and Team Dynamics

Following Luis Enrique’s appointment in the summer of 2023, Paris Saint-Germain’s 22-year-old defender Nuno Mendes has emerged as one of the team members showing significant improvement. In an interview, he commented: RMC In 'Rothen s'enflamme,' he discussed the team's development along with his personal journey under the guidance of the Spanish tactician.

Mendes "If my teammate isn't present, I must ensure I'm prepared to predict."

Do you collectively feel more powerful as a team? Is this aspect where you've seen the most improvement with Luis Enrique?

Yes, we've made progress in many aspects. The coach is really doing an excellent job. We consistently strive to... We understand how to play football, we know what needs to be done on the field to excel, but the coach provides us with specific actions on the pitch that create significant impact.

For instance, our movement has been an ongoing focus for quite some time, as at the beginning of last season, we were not particularly strong in that aspect.

Today, we’ve become a more comprehensive team with this style of play, and I believe we're continually exploring new tactics. However, agility for both us players and the coach is crucial for our squad’s success.

Mendes "Speed is something I excel at."

Do you consider yourself a well-rounded athlete?

No, I'm not finished yet! I have the chance to be very fast as it really helps me a lot. There are many players who understand my style of play. What I excel at is speed. Speed allows me to compensate for areas where I might not perform as well. In my opinion, speed is definitely one of my strongest attributes.

Covering long distances at a run is also something you excel at...

“Yes, but you have to manage the moments of the match well. For us, it’s a bit easy, because we try to keep the ball, play with the ball, defend with the ball. So that gives us a bit of time to recover, attack and defend.

Mendes "During crucial games, particularly those in championships, I prefer to be involved and take part."

You were known for getting hurt frequently; what do you attribute this transformation to?

It includes a little bit of everything, a piece of myself. I aim to participate in each match and strive for excellence whenever I'm on the field. The coach understands that I might not be able to play every game since I recently had an injury. It's all about managing effectively.

The decision lies with the coach, along with the technical and medical teams—I also have input. We all strive to find the best solutions so that I can participate in as many games as possible. For crucial matches and championships, I want to be present and contribute."

Currently, Nuno Mendes is regarded as one of the top players in his role. Despite this recognition, he continues to show significant potential for growth. Both in domestic leagues and European competitions like the Champions League, his displays have been exceptional. Additionally, his approach to the game aligns well with what Coach Luis Enrique expects from him. This alignment explains why Nuno has seen such considerable development since working under Luis Enrique; success hasn’t come randomly but through consistent effort and fit.

Certainly, he still has considerable work ahead of him, starting with sustaining this level of play across multiple seasons, and then addressing certain areas where he falls short. However, all things considered, we can only express satisfaction with Nuno Mendes' performance.

He stands as one of the cornerstones of the Spanish strategist's team. Having Nuno Mendes operating at full capacity makes it simpler to tackle a UEFA Champions League fixture, given his ability to impact the game both defensively and offensively.