Nuno Mendes: ‘We're all pulling in the same direction' | OneFootball

The Paris full-back answered UEFA's questions ahead of Paris Saint-Germain's Champions League quarter-final clash with Aston Villa.

Nuno, do you have a pre-match routine?

‘Every player has his own way of staying focused before a match. Whether it's in the league or the Champions League. The big matches require a slightly higher level of concentration, but I always do the same thing. I stay focused, in a corner, I stay calm and quiet, and I talk to my team-mates.’

What do you think of your individual performances in the two games against Liverpool?

‘It's true that on a personal level, I had two good matches. But it's only two matches... I don't think you can stop there, especially when you want to stay at the highest level. I want to be judged on full seasons, because you have to work hard and relentlessly to deserve praise. Of course, Champions League matches allow you to grow because you're playing against very high-level opponents who can take advantage of the slightest mistake. I try to improve with every training session and every match.'

What impact has Luis Enrique had on your development?

‘He's a great coach. He helps us on a daily basis, he understands the players because he was one not so long ago. He has a gift for talking to the players, explaining to them what to do and how to play. He's strict in the good sense of the word, and that's a good thing because we need a framework to know what to do and what not to do. He plays his role as coach perfectly, and since his arrival in Paris, he's done everything he can to help the players become better, and also to find the little details that make a big difference during a match.'

There are a lot of Portuguese players in Paris, so we imagine it's special for you?

‘We're very close, whether it's here at the Campus, on the pitch, or even outside in everyday life. I think it's important to be able to share moments like that when you're in a team. I think it strengthens not only our friendship, but also our team spirit. And that's something I think is very important.'

Paris is a young team and you can sense that it has enormous potential...

‘PSG simply wants to turn its players into great players who are ready to play at the highest level. That's the club's project, and I think the team has understood that. The club is working very hard to achieve this. We're a young team with big ambitions. We're all pulling in the same direction and we're on the right track to achieve great things.'

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