Nuno Mendes sees (finally) the end of the tunnel. Victim of a rupture of the joint tendon of the right hamstring during the defeat (1-3) against Lorient on April 30 and on the sidelines since then, the Portuguese international (19 caps), permanently recruited by Paris Saint-Germain on July 1, 2022, is preparing to make its big return to competition. “It’s not available yet but it’s very close. He needs to get back into rhythm, he has recovered, he is almost 100%, and still needs to do some physical work. But it’s very good news, he’s a top level player, I hope he will enjoy his return, it’s the worst thing that can happen to a player to get injured, but I ‘hope he comes back as soon as possible’confided, in this regard, Luis Enrique, questioned about the state of form of his protégé.
A carefully prepared return…
Now absent from the medical update published each week by the capital club, the former Sporting CP player should, as such, quickly (re)integrate the Ile-de-France group. If his presence for the Stade Rennais reception, this Sunday at 5:05 p.m., is clearly not yet assured, the native of Lisbon – who is now increasing the number of collective training sessions with the rest of his teammates – is closer than ever to a comeback. With a shock against AS Monaco (March 1) in his sights or even this round of 16 second leg of the Champions League against Real Sociedad (March 5), the Spanish technician can, whatever happens, rub hands. If this announced return can only rejoice the upper echelons of the current leader of Ligue 1, it is the fruit of long work carried out by the Parisian medical unit. Determined – more than impatient – at the idea of seeing Nuno Mendes back to his full potential, PSG has always remained very cautious. And for good reason.
Last season, the player trained at Sporting had, in fact, played several matches while feeling pain. A risk taken which notably resulted in 4 muscle injuries during the 2022-2023 financial year (216 days of absences and 2420 minutes played out of 6210 possible). With this past experience with the 1m83 left-hander, the Ile-de-France medical staff never wanted to rush things, preferring to increase the number of sessions in the weight room and thus avoid the slightest relapse for those who had had to go through the operation box in last September. “PSG worked really well on this point with Nuno. He has gained physicality and we can’t wait to see what he can do on the pitch after this work in the gym.”, assured the player’s entourage, extremely cautious. Meticulous work also facilitated by the very good performance of Lucas Hernandez, designated successor of PSG in the left lane of the Parisian defense, and the recent arrival of Lucas Beraldo, capable of helping out in this sector of play. Viable alternatives on the way therefore to be completed by a return of size.
Nuno Mendes and Luis Enrique’s tactical puzzle
On the verge of being operational, number 25 of PSG will thus offer new possibilities to Luis Enrique. “To win the Champions League, you need a great team. Not just 11 players but 23. Let everyone be ready to enter. You have to be humble and supportive with the rest of the team. You have to be humble because your opponent can sometimes be better than you.”had affirmed, in this respect, the Spaniard upon his arrival in the City of Lights and repeating, weekend after weekend, his desire to involve everyone. “We want to have the option to start with all the players, it’s good that all the players are involved in the match”. In view of the words of the former coach of La Roja, the return of Nuno Mendes should therefore change the face of the reigning French champions, moreover at a time when the Ile-de-France defense must deal with various absences (Milan Skriniar, Presnel Kimpembe). With this in mind and after almost 10 months of absence, the 53-year-old tactician could integrate the Portuguese into his usual 4-3-3. With Achraf Hakimi on the right side, Marquinhos and Lucas Hernandez (or Danilo) in the axis of defense, the one who sees his contract run until June 2026 would then logically settle in the left lane.
Renowned for his offensive qualities, the 21-year-old Parisian also offers another solution for Luis Enrique. Conditioned on a change in tactical device from the ex-Barça coach, Mendes could thus bring his speed as a left wide midfielder in a 3-4-3. A formula which would notably offer him the possibility of combining with Bradley Barcola, right in front of him. In a piston role, fully corresponding to his profile and his explosiveness, Nuno Mendes also remains a more than credible option in the case of 3-5-2. A possibility which would however send one of the Ile-de-France offensive players (Barcola, Kolo Muani, Asensio) to the bench. Finally, like João Cancelo during his time at Manchester City and taking into account Luis Enrique’s ability to surprise everyone, it is also not impossible to see the young Portuguese used in the Parisian midfield. . One thing is certain, if this return to competition is, today, considered happy news for the capital club, it is also the source of a big headache to come for Luis Enrique…
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