The Club: How Nuno Mendes became indispensable to PSG, his former mentors have responded

The Club: How Nuno Mendes became indispensable to PSG, his former mentors have responded

Since his peak twenty years, Nuno Mendes has established himself as one of the best players at his position in Europe. So how did the Portuguese become indispensable to Paris Saint-Germain? In the columns of Le Parisien, his former teachers trace back to the qualities of the player that allowed him to reach this level.

A starter with PSG, Nuno Mendes has managed to fill a position that the Candidates have succeeded in since Maxwell’s departure in 2017. There has rarely been consensus among the Parisian players. Thanks to his athletic and technical abilities, the Portuguese has established himself as one of the best players in his position. With rare vitality and a mind of steel, the Lisbon native took on another dimension both on and off the field.

Arriving in the summer of 2021, at just 19 years old, the former Sporting Portugal player quickly settled into the left lane of PSG. Quickly, his ability to take matters into his own hands was evident. In today’s edition, Parisian He went to meet those who shaped the player’s personality and traits. Among them: Lionel Pontes, his former coach at Sporting Portugal, and former Portugal international Costina (53 selections). The two men deciphered the characteristics of the Portuguese through his game and his integration in Paris.

An amazing rush of speed

Nuno Mendes has legs of fire, and his opponents can attest to that. His ability to accelerate is one of the dominant qualities of the Portuguese. Which allows him in particular to create many great balls at the foot or through his calls in depth.

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The one who talks about it best is Lionel Pontes, his coach with the Sporting Portugal U-23 team. “He’s always had such speed from an early age. What’s most impressive about him is having speed combined with technique. As soon as I met him, he immediately showed his speed and attacking aggression. He’s constantly looking for the spaces available to him, to attack deep with or without the ball.” He knows where and how to position himself. »

From his top 80 and 70 kilograms, Nuno Mendes also relies on his vitality. This ability to be everywhere, at any time, in every ball. Every round he takes doesn’t seem to require much effort, he is always in contact with his opponents. His former mentor has reason to admire: “He’s really strong physically. I find him great and very fit. In a team like PSG he attacks a lot, always maintains the same strength. He attacks and defends all the time!”

Besides speed, Costina, the former FC Porto midfielder, particularly notes the intelligence and technique the player displays on the ground. “He’s no way coming off. He knows how to keep the ball. For all the movement in the left lane you need speed, depth and also style and he does it very well. PSG is different when you’re on the pitch. He gives dimension.” Another for the team’s left lane. »

Paris Saint-Germain with and without Mendes

With 23 matches played in all competitions, Nuno Mendes has an impressive statistical record: 2 goals and 5 assists. Even better, PSG are unbeaten in Ligue 1 when the Portuguese is on the field. “It’s a phenomenon. From his first games, it wasn’t the guy who threw the towel on the floor, Costinha explains in Le Parisien. He is also not afraid when he goes to play on a hot field and that was already the case when he was 17 or 18 years old with Sporting. »

As Ile de France wrote, “In Paris, executives respect Nuno Mendes as much for his football as for his sense of humor and humility.” Besides these athletic qualities that we no longer need to introduce, his personality would have allowed him to gain prestige within the Parisian dressing room.

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Kostinya, through his past as a professional player, gives his opinion on the matter. “His good behavior makes players like Kylian, Neymar, Messi and Ramos want to play with him. We see him on the field. Look how he joined this team after only one full season at Sporting. He works best in Paris in the dressing room where there are many stars.”

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About the Author: Germano Álvares

"Desbravador de cerveja apaixonado. Álcool alcoólico incurável. Geek de bacon. Viciado em web em geral."

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