Luis Enrique addresses Nuno Mendes thigh issue after Strasbourg win
Paris Saint-Germain head coach Luis Enrique confirmed that Nuno Mendes felt a slight thigh issue during a 3-1 win over Strasbourg, creating an immediate fitness concern ahead of a crucial European fixture.
Nuno Mendes Limps Off Against Strasbourg
Paris Saint-Germain secured a 3-1 victory over Strasbourg on Saturday during the seventh round of the French league, but the win came with a significant squad cost. Nuno Mendes entered the match in the 53rd minute and helped turn the result around before limped off on 85 minutes, goal.com reported. Because Luis Enrique had already utilized all of his available substitutions prior to the incident, Paris Saint-Germain was forced to play out the remainder of the fixture with only ten men on the field.
Luis Enrique Addresses the Thigh Issue
Speaking to the press after the final whistle, Luis Enrique detailed the decision-making process behind leaving the team short-handed in the dying minutes of the game. “He felt something slight in his thigh, and we decided not to take any risks,” the Spanish coach explained. Enrique added further context regarding the severity of the situation, stating, “I don’t know whether we can describe that as an injury, but we decided to play with one man fewer, because we didn’t want to take any risks.”
Paris Saint-Germain Prepares for Barcelona Clash
The timing of the fitness scare is particularly precarious for the Parisian club. Paris Saint-Germain is scheduled to host Barcelona next Tuesday at the Parc des Princes for the third round of the UEFA Champions League. Both clubs sit at the top of the European competition table with six points from two games, though Paris holds the leading position ahead of the second-placed Blaugrana solely on goal difference. Meanwhile, Barcelona enters the continental matchup following a dominant 5-2 victory over Real Betis in the ninth round of the Spanish league on Saturday, setting the stage for a high-stakes group encounter.
