´We still believe in ourselves´ – Mendes praises PSG youngsters in Barca victory

Nuno Mendes was full of praise for Paris Saint-Germain’s youngsters during their 2-1 win over Barcelona in the Champions League.

Despite going behind after 19 minutes to a Ferran Torres goal, strikes from Senny Mayulu and Goncalo Ramos secured an important win away from home for the reigning champions.

Luis Enrique’s starting lineup was aged just 23 years and 98 days – the second-youngest ever named by a reigning Champions League champion.

Ibrahim Mbaye, aged 17 years and 250 days, was the joint-youngest player ever to start a game for a reigning champion, with Bright Arrey-Mbi also the exact same age for Bayern Munich v Atletico Madrid in December 2020.

And Mayulu’s equalising goal was the 20th scored by a teenager for PSG in the Champions League; they are the third side to reach that total, after Barcelona (26) and Ajax (23).

Left-back Nuno Mendes, who assisted Mayulu’s goal, was quick to credit PSG’s younger players for how they rose to the occasion.

“It was a close match, but we still believe in ourselves,” the Portuguese full-back told Canal+. “We have a lot of injuries, but the players who played were great.

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“Senny, Quentin [Ndjantou], who came on and is a new young player, he was great. That’s what we need, players who come to help us and play our football. We showed our work, even with a lot of injuries, we were at the top level.

“We know it’s going to be harder this year because everyone wants to beat us. We know that, and we’re focused. We always come to win, and today was a good example.”

Mayulu added: “They scored the first goal, but we didn’t give up, we kept our heads.

“We knew we had to play our game to come back and win this match. We are like that; we have this identity as a team.

“We have this mentality of not giving up despite what might happen. The coach also contributes every day.”