Nuno Mendes, Paris Saint-Germain’s 22-year-old full-back, is one of the players to have turned a corner since Luis Enrique’s arrival in the summer of 2023. Speaking on RMC‘s Rothen s’enflamme program on Thursday, the Portuguese intern spoke of his current form and progress.
Mendes “the championship is still important for us.”
Is the unbeaten record the source of motivation in Ligue 1 after clinching this championship title?
“Yes, of course. We’re already champions, but if we don’t lose it’s better for us. So we’re trying to go for that record, to finish the championship without losing a game. I think we’re on the right track. I think the team is always thinking about that because it’s an important thing for us and for the club too.
For us, it gives us ambition. We know these are games that don’t count, but it’s good for us because we’ve still got some important games to play.
These three games before the Champions League are important for us, to try and do things in attack and defence. I think the championship is still important for us.”
Mendes “The mind is everything for a soccer player.”
You and the Parisian team, as well as the staff, exude a great deal of serenity…
“Yes, the mind is the most important thing for us. The mind is everything for a soccer player. There are a lot of players who get injured a lot, come back, play a match and get injured.
They ask themselves too many questions, wondering why they keep getting injured. We try to keep a cool head, smile every day, that’s the most important thing.”
Mendes “All the players are ready to learn”
PSG has a young squad, yet there’s still plenty of room for improvement?
“Yes, we’re young, we listen, we like to learn every day. That’s the key to the team. All the players are ready to learn, available to do what the club asks. That’s important for us for the big things in the season.”
It’s hard for any team to stay motivated after winning the French title. Of course, the record can help you fight to the end and prepare for the remaining Champions League matches. In this respect, Luis Enrique has also brought a wind of progress.
Each player is now 100% committed to the team and, above all, to its results. The determination of each player to give his all to lead the team to victory also brings individual progression. Of course, the age of 90% of the squad should not be overlooked. If PSG is impressive today, what will it be like in two or three years’ time, when experience will have allowed some of the squad to mature?
Even if the hope of winning the Champions League is still alive in April, we mustn’t forget that the season has already been a success. Beyond the successes, there has also been a real respect for the shirt and the club, whatever the match, and this is one of the essential points of the last two seasons.
