Nuno Mendes, tactically transformed at PSG

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·6 aprile 2026

Nuno Mendes, tactically transformed at PSG

At 23, Paris Saint-Germain defender Nuno Mendes now looks like much more than just a wide player. Through the account shared by his former U11 coach, Joao Plantier, for L’Équipe, what emerges above all is the story of a deep evolution, between tactical maturity and a change in stature.

Plantier: “Where he has really improved is in his understanding of the game”

“I don’t know what it can be like against low blocks because where he is at his best is when he has space. If he can play in any position today, it is partly thanks to Roberto Martinez (with Portugal, editor’s note), who sometimes used him as a central defender, but above all thanks to Luis Enrique. Where he has really improved is in his understanding of the game. Tactically, he is no longer the same player since playing for PSG.”

Joao Plantier’s account carries weight because he is not trying to paint a perfect picture. First, he subtly reminds us that Nuno Mendes remains a particularly dangerous player when the game opens up and space appears. But the main point lies elsewhere: what his former coach describes is the making of a much more complete player than before.

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At Paris Saint-Germain, and in continuity with what he also experienced with Roberto Martinez, the Portuguese is no longer just an attacking full-back, capable of hurting opponents with his speed or forward runs. He has become a player who better understands spaces, movement, and roles.

Put simply, his raw talent has been enriched by real game intelligence. This perspective from his youth development days also says something valuable about Luis Enrique’s PSG: in Paris, Nuno Mendes has not only grown physically or technically, he has learned to read football with far greater accuracy.

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