Nuno Mendes, Portuguese Defender: Ready for One-on-One with Former Teammate Mbappe

The quarterfinals of the European Championship are set, and the eagerly awaited clashes in the top half of the bracket are on the horizon. Ahead of facing France, Portuguese left-back Nuno Mendes expressed his readiness to potentially go head-to-head with his former Paris Saint-Germain teammate Kylian Mbappe.

Mendes, operating as a left-back, has shared the pitch with the French captain for the past three seasons. Now, however, they will face off for their respective nations in the Euro tournament. Mendes believes their time together has fostered mutual understanding, leaving him undaunted by the prospect of direct confrontation. “We both play on the left side, so I don’t think he’ll often switch to my side, but if it happens, I’m ready. I train every day for moments like these, and the whole team is eager. France has many great players, but we do too,” he said.

So far, Cristiano Ronaldo, the leader of the Portuguese squad, has yet to score in this Euro edition, even missing a crucial penalty in extra time during the Round of 16, which could have put Portugal ahead. This situation has left Nuno Mendes feeling regretful: “Normally, it’s Ronaldo supporting all of us, but this time, it’s the other way around. We’re all there to support him. It’s a tough moment for him and for us. We’re ready to help him.”

Mendes also highlighted the team’s unity and confidence in the upcoming matches: “We are a very united group, and that’s our biggest strength in winning games. Diogo Costa made three incredible saves, unbelievable. Winning gives everyone energy. We want to bring joy to people, so we’ll give everything to get victories.”

Heaped praise on manager Roberto Martinez, Mendes said, “We’re like a big family, and the coach does everything to make the players feel good on and off the pitch – that’s his standout trait. It allows us to be physically and mentally prepared for matches.”