Nuno Mendes, 22-year-old left-back for Paris Saint-Germain and Portugal, answered questions from RMC Sport in an interview broadcast on Thursday’s Rothen S’enflamme program. The interview was an opportunity to discuss the relationship with coach Luis Enrique and the latter’s contribution to PSG.
Nuno Mendes “He also knows what’s inside the players’ heads.”
“Do you have a special relationship with Luis Enrique?
“The coach tries to have a good relationship with all the players. That’s how we’re going to achieve a lot. That’s the most important thing. He also knows what’s in the players’ heads. Because not so long ago, he was a player too.
I think he’s got a good handle on this stage. We’re players; if we don’t play, we’re angry. He tries to understand the players. Because that’s important to us. If a player isn’t good, we’re not going to be good. We have to try and make sure we all feel good on the pitch and in training.
Nuno Mendes “We’re tired, but we know we’ve got big things ahead of us.”
Training is the most important thing for us. It’s where we do the things we’re going to do in the match. Today, we need to be focused. We’re tired, but we know we’ve got great things ahead of us.”
It’s interesting to see such a discourse, with Luis Enrique managing to be close to his players and help them thanks to his past as a player. And all this after the media had promised us during the autumn that the bond had been broken, that the Spaniard had “lost” the squad.
Elements that have never been confirmed, either in statements or in play. Above all, it emerges that he is able to adapt to help his players grow and become involved in the season.
Of course, there can be disappointments and tensions. And mistakes. They’re all human, and that’s part of the life of a group. Above all, we can see that the group is making progress and that its potential is being used to good effect. This is achieved by keeping everyone ready to participate, without anyone grumbling (at least publicly) when they’re subbed in.
