‘It was the pressing’ - Nuno Mendes on why PSG struggled to score against Girona

On Wednesday, 18 September, Paris Saint-Germain began their UEFA Champions League campaign by hosting Girona at the Parc des Princes. PSG entered the match with an impressive domestic record of four wins from four games, while Girona struggled in La Liga, managing only two victories from their first five outings.

Under Luis Enrique, PSG's starting XI featured Safonov in goal, with a strong defensive line and a forward trio of Dembele, Asensio, and Barcola. The first half showcased PSG's possession dominance at 73%, but they struggled to convert this into clear chances, finishing the half 0-0.

The second half saw missed opportunities, notably by Dembele, until Nuno Mendes broke the deadlock in the 89th minute with a fortunate goal following a mistake by Girona's goalkeeper. PSG secured a narrow 1-0 victory, but the performance left much to be desired.

Man of the Match thanks to his last-minute goal, Nuno Mendes was far from triumphalist when speaking to Canal+ (h/t CulturePSG) after the game, readily acknowledging the opponent's quality and PSG's struggles with pressing.

Nuno Mendes explains why PSG struggled to score against Girona

Why was it so hard to win tonight?

“Thank you (for the Man of the Match trophy). It was a complicated match; they are a team that plays well with the ball. We tried to press them effectively because they are very strong on the ball, and we aimed to do our best to prevent that, but we didn’t succeed well. We gave it our all, which is what we must do, and the goal came in the last minute, which is the most important thing.”

Were you surprised when you saw the ball hit the back of the net after your shot?

“Yes, I was too! Because the goalkeeper was positioned like this (ready), and the ball slipped past. So I was happy.”

Tactically, what didn’t work for PSG?

“I think it was the pressing. We pressed poorly, but they are a good team as well; they know how to play with the ball. It was a complicated match, but the three points are what matters most.”