Portuguese left-back Nuno Mendes is relishing the chance to face French star and former Paris Saint-Germain teammate Kylian Mbappe in the Euro 2024 quarter-finals on Friday.
Mendes, 22, played two seasons with Mbappe, who recently joined Real Madrid as a free agent after leaving PSG.
Mendes, who shares a dressing room with five-time Ballon d'Or winner Cristiano Ronaldo for Portugal, said of the two stars: “They are top-level players, excellent, who can make the difference at any moment. I shared a dressing room with both of them and it was a pleasure to play with Mbappé and play with Cristiano. They are incredible, from one moment to the next they make the difference.”
Asked if he had to choose between the two, Mendes said at his press conference on Wednesday: “It's complicated. If I were a coach, I would choose both.”
Mendes is ready to face Mbappé if necessary.
“I don't think he'll play on my flank, but if it happens I'm ready,” he said. “I train every day for these moments and we're ready to face them.”
“They have top-level players, but we also have great players. We have to do everything we can to counter France's strengths and play our game.”
The Blues They are yet to score from any open play, having reached the quarter-finals thanks to a Kylian Mbappé penalty and two own goals (the latter coming from Jan Vertonghen in their 1-0 win over Belgium in the round of 16 on Monday).
“I think it's good for us, it's a good indicator,” Mendes said. “They are players who have a nose for goal, both Mbappé and [PSG forward Ousmane] Dembélé: They like to go for the goal. It depends on them and on us, to do our best to stop them from scoring against us.”
Ronaldo, 39, goes into Friday's game having yet to score at Euro 2024 outside of penalties.
The Portugal captain, who is the tournament's top scorer with 14 goals, saw his penalty saved by Slovenia goalkeeper Jan Oblak in their round of 16 encounter on Monday.
Ronaldo burst into tears and had to be consoled by his teammates when the match was decided in a penalty shoot-out in Portugal's favour.
“It was a tough time for him,” Mendes said. “We're all here to help and he was in a less good moment. The team felt it and obviously we have to help everyone. We're a very united group and that's what gave us more strength, so much so that [Portugal goalkeeper] Diogo [Costa] He made three incredible saves [in the shootout]It was a moment we won't forget, but it's not over yet.”
