Nuno Mendes: 'Luis Enrique told me, you need to defend better'
There was a time when Nuno Mendes only had one thing on his mind: attack. The Paris Saint-Germain full-back admits that defence wasn’t always his priority, but under Luis Enrique’s demanding eye, the 23-year-old has learned to combine instinct with intelligence. The result? One of Europe’s most complete and consistent full-backs, as Mendes told AFP in a wide-ranging interview about his evolution and life in Paris.
Nuno Mendes has quietly become one of the most complete full-backs in world football. The 23-year-old PSG defender credits much of that transformation to head coach Luis Enrique, whose demand for defensive rigour has unlocked a new dimension in the Portuguese international’s game.
Before, I only thought about attacking,” Mendes admitted in an interview with AFP. “Luis Enrique noticed that and told me, ‘You need to defend better — then I’ll give you the freedom to attack.’”
Football was part of Mendes’ life from the very beginning. “It was always there — in the street, with my friends. As soon as we had a ball, we played,” he recalls. When he joined PSG on loan from Sporting CP in 2021, the move brought challenges beyond the pitch. “It was a new country, a new language, but I was lucky to have Danilo here. He helped me a lot. I tried to learn French quickly so I could get out, meet people, and feel at home.”
That adaptation period paid off. After an initial season on loan, PSG made the deal permanent, and Mendes quickly established himself as a mainstay on the left flank. Yet, it was only under Luis Enrique that the young defender began to evolve from an athletic outlet into a tactical cornerstone.
A new balance
“Attacking with speed, that I already knew how to do,” Mendes explains. “At the start, I wasn’t very strong defensively. Luis Enrique helped me a lot with that. Now I’m comfortable on both sides — I try to balance my attacks and rest when needed. The coach has done great work, not only with me but with everyone. That versatility is something he’s given us for life.”
Alongside Achraf Hakimi, Mendes has formed one of Europe’s most dynamic full-back duos. “It’s always nice to hear people say that,” he smiled. “Achraf and I are in a good moment. It’s collective work — if we’re doing well, it’s because the whole team is doing well.”
Injuries briefly slowed his rise, particularly a serious muscle problem in 2023. “The club helped me a lot. They said, ‘You can go to Portugal, take care of what you need, recover properly.’ Being with my family helped me a lot,” he says. That patience and care have paid off — Mendes has returned stronger, sharper, and more decisive.
“I always wanted to stay here”
Now under contract until 2029, Mendes insists he never considered leaving Paris. “My agent spoke a lot with the president. I always wanted to stay, to help put PSG at the top level. It was what both sides wanted,” he said. “It’s a pleasure to play here.”
When asked if he sees himself among the world’s best, Mendes stays grounded: “I consider myself a good full-back. I don’t like to say I’m the best — you have to prove that on the pitch.”
Even after finishing 10th in the 2025 Ballon d’Or ranking, Mendes remains focused on team success. “I’m very happy for Ousmane [Dembélé],” he said. “If I can win individual trophies one day, great — but first comes the collective. That’s the most important thing.”
From the Lisbon streets to the Parc des Princes, Nuno Mendes’ evolution is a reflection of modern full-back football — explosive yet disciplined, creative yet conscious. And with Luis Enrique’s words still echoing in his mind, he continues to rise, one defensive recovery at a time.
