Gregory Paisley, the 48-year-old former defender who played for Paris Saint-Germain (youth academy and then professionally from 1996 to 2001), was invited by Le Parisien to comment on the rise of Nuno Mendes (the 23-year-old left-back for PSG). He was very clear.
Paisley: “It was a turning point.”
“He’s the best left-back in the world. I can’t think of anyone else who’s better. In my opinion, no one currently rivals him. Simply put, I haven’t seen that level of talent since Marcelo at Real Madrid. A left-back who is so impactful, a goalscorer, an assist provider, and who performs in the biggest matches… He’s destined to dominate his position for a decade. I’m happy that PSG has him on their roster.
He has made enormous progress in his defensive game. I think he realized this when Luis Enrique limited his attacking freedom, letting Hakimi push forward constantly. He understood that he needed to improve his defensive discipline, otherwise he would have less freedom in attack. That was a turning point.”
It’s easy to praise Nuno Mendes today; he has undeniably taken his game to another level and impresses regularly. The Portuguese player is undoubtedly among the best in the world. We’ll leave the debate about who is number one for another time; it can be lengthy and often depends on one’s allegiance to a club or national team.
The most interesting aspect, as Paisley points out, is Mendes’s progression. This potential was clear from his arrival, even if some quickly doubted a player who was only 19. But coach Luis Enrique, with his staff, has greatly reduced his defensive weaknesses and has developed him tactically.
We remember the criticism that came when he was given a more cautious role in defense. But he brought balance to the team and pushed Mendes to improve defensively. The Portuguese player is now more well-rounded, and the team has worked to enable him to move forward more often and express his attacking qualities. In addition, the fullback has also refined his decision-making and execution of attacking moves.
