Nuno Mendes: How far Sporting can go in the Champions League | OneFootball

Four and a half years after leaving Sporting, Nuno Mendes is returning to Alvalade, where he hopes to be applauded, even while representing PSG, the opponent this Tuesday, in the seventh round of the UEFA Champions League group stage.

Regarding the opponent he expects, the full-back issued a challenge: "I hope it's a Sporting that wants to play, that likes to have the ball, that takes risks, that will compete to win, this will make the game more interesting and competitive. I hope they advance from the group stage, I hope to meet Sporting in the Champions final, that would be complicated, but Sporting has everything to make a good run and I wish them the best of luck."

On how he sees this Sporting - which has an encouraging record against French teams - that is pursuing the championship title, Nuno Mendes emphasized: "They are having a good season, with a lot of quality, high-level players from various countries, it will be a tough game, like all Champions games, we are aware that Sporting will come in to win and we will do the same."

Asked to indicate the percentage he considers PSG to be the favorite for today's game, the former Sporting player was cautious: "That doesn't matter much, we can be favorites and lose tomorrow. We have to approach the game with the utmost professionalism, with the utmost respect, with high intensity as we usually put into all games, tomorrow will be no exception.

Nuno Mendes returns to Alvalade and doesn't hide that he would like to be embraced by the fans: "I hope it's a great day, obviously I'll be happy if they applaud me, tomorrow I come to represent PSG, but Sporting is present in me, it will be a different game on a personal level, with the utmost respect for Sporting".

This article was translated into English by Artificial Intelligence. You can read the original version in 🇵🇹 here.