Luis Enrique, Nuno Mendes and Why Versatility is Football’s New Superpower

In the high-stakes theatre of modern football, tactical rigidity is a death sentence. The days of the specialist who can only perform one function are fading. Instead, a new currency is dominating the transfer market and the tactical board: versatility. No recent example illustrates this seismic shift better than the audacious tactical experiment orchestrated by Luis Enrique during Paris Saint-Germain’s meeting with Nice last month. The Spanish coach did not just tweak his formation; he rewired it. Left-back Nuno Mendes became a left winger. Centre-back Lucas Beraldo was deployed in midfield. And left winger Kvicha Kvaratskhelia moved to a central striker role. This was not chaos—it was calculated genius. And it signals that versatility is no longer a luxury; it is football’s new superpower.

For decades, coaches sought specialists: the pure winger, the destroyer in midfield, the target man up front. But the modern game, with its relentless pressing, fluid transitions, and compact defensive blocks, demands players who can shapeshift. Luis Enrique’s masterstroke against Nice was a case study in how to weaponize adaptability. Let’s break down why this shift is happening—and why your team will fall behind if it ignores it.

The Luis Enrique Blueprint: Positional Anarchy as a Weapon

When the team sheet dropped for PSG’s clash with Nice, pundits were baffled. Nuno Mendes, a marauding left-back known for his overlapping runs, was listed as a left winger. Lucas Beraldo, a promising centre-back who joined from São Paulo, was penciled in as a midfielder. And Kvicha Kvaratskhelia, the Georgian magician who terrorizes defenders from the left flank, was the central striker. This was not a desperate gamble; it was a premeditated tactical assault.

Luis Enrique’s logic is rooted in positional fluidity. By moving Mendes higher up the pitch, he turned the left side into a nightmare for Nice’s defenders. Mendes, with his explosive pace and dribbling ability, could isolate full-backs in one-on-one situations—something he rarely does from deep. Meanwhile, Beraldo in midfield provided a left-footed passing angle from deep, breaking lines with precision that a traditional defensive midfielder might lack. Kvaratskhelia, freed from the touchline, used his low center of gravity to drift into half-spaces, dragging centre-backs out of position.

This is not random experimentation. It is a philosophy. Luis Enrique, who previously converted Andrés Iniesta into a false winger at Barcelona and turned Sergio Busquets into a centre-back in possession, understands that modern defenders must be comfortable in midfield, and attackers must be comfortable defending. The result against Nice? PSG dominated possession, created overloads in unpredictable zones, and exposed the rigidity of Nice’s man-marking system. The lesson is clear: if your players can only do one job, the opponent will study and neutralize you. If they can do three, you become unreadable.

Why Versatility is the Ultimate Tactical Leverage

The rise of versatility is not a trend—it is a response to the evolving demands of the game. Let’s examine three core reasons why managers like Luis Enrique are prioritizing multi-functional players over specialists.

• Injury and squad management: A versatile squad can absorb injuries without losing tactical identity. When Nuno Mendes plays as a winger, he allows PSG to rest a starting forward without changing the system. Similarly, Lucas Beraldo in midfield means the team can rotate a midfielder without sacrificing defensive solidity. This is critical in a congested calendar.
• Unlocking defensive blocks: The modern low block is a fortress. To break it, you need players who can swap positions mid-attack, confusing defensive assignments. A centre-back moving into midfield (like Beraldo) forces the opponent’s midfielders to track him, opening space. A full-back turning into a winger (like Mendes) forces the opposing full-back to decide: follow him or stay deep?
• Counter-pressing superiority: The best pressing teams—Liverpool under Klopp, Bayern under Flick—rely on players who can cover multiple lanes after losing the ball. A versatile player can instantly transition from attacker to defender, closing passing lanes that a specialist might ignore. Luis Enrique’s PSG press with a front line that includes a full-back and a centre-back is inherently more unpredictable.

Consider the data: In the 2023-24 season, Nuno Mendes completed more dribbles per 90 minutes than most wingers in Ligue 1, despite starting as a left-back. His heat map against Nice showed him spending 60% of his time in the final third. Meanwhile, Kvicha Kvaratskhelia recorded three shots from central positions—his highest total from that zone all season. This is not coincidence; it is design. Versatility allows coaches to exploit mismatches in real time.

The Players Leading the Versatility Revolution

Luis Enrique is not alone in this crusade. Across Europe, the most valuable players are those who can perform multiple roles at an elite level. Here are three archetypes that define the new superpower:

The Full-Back-Winger Hybrid: Nuno Mendes is a prototype, but he joins a growing list that includes Alphonso Davies (Bayern), João Cancelo (Barcelona), and Kyle Walker-Peters. These players can defend on the flank, invert into midfield, and attack the box. Their value lies in their ability to create numerical superiority without substitutions. For Luis Enrique, Mendes is not just a defender; he is a tactical chess piece that can shift from rook to knight in a single phase of play.

The Centre-Back Midfielder: Lucas Beraldo is a fledgling example, but John Stones (Manchester City) perfected this role under Pep Guardiola. Stones steps into midfield during possession, creating a 3-2-4-1 shape. Beraldo, at 21, is learning this craft. Against Nice, he completed 92% of his passes, with five progressive passes into the final third—numbers usually associated with a deep-lying playmaker, not a centre-back. This dual-role ability makes him invaluable for PSG’s build-up phase.

The False Nine/Wide Playmaker: Kvicha Kvaratskhelia moving to striker is a throwback to Lionel Messi’s false nine role under Guardiola. But Kvaratskhelia adds a unique twist: his dribbling from central areas draws fouls and creates space for runners like Mendes. In the Nice match, his heat map showed a cluster around the penalty spot—a zone he rarely occupies as a winger. This positional flexibility forces centre-backs to choose between stepping out (and leaving space behind) or dropping deep (and inviting a shot).

The common thread? These players are not “jack of all trades, master of none.” They are masters of multiple trades. And in a league as demanding as Ligue 1, that mastery is becoming the difference between a top-four finish and a title challenge.

Predictions: How Versatility Will Shape the Next Decade

Looking ahead, the trend will accelerate. Here are three predictions based on Luis Enrique’s experiment and the broader tactical evolution.

1. Academies will prioritize “positionless” training. Youth coaches will no longer pigeonhole players as “left-back” or “winger.” Instead, they will train players to understand spatial awareness and role fluidity. PSG’s academy, for example, is already producing full-backs who can play as inverted midfielders and wingers who can defend in a back four. The next generation of Nuno Mendes will be even more adaptable.

2. Transfer fees for versatile players will skyrocket. A player who can fill three roles is worth 2.5x a specialist, according to recent market analysis. Expect clubs to pay premiums for players like Jules Koundé (who plays centre-back and right-back) or Federico Valverde (who plays midfield, right-wing, and right-back). Luis Enrique’s PSG will likely target more “Swiss Army knife” players in the next window.

3. Tactical unpredictability will become the norm. Managers will start matches with one formation and shift to a completely different shape within 15 minutes, relying on players like Nuno Mendes and Lucas Beraldo to execute seamless transitions. The “starting XI” will become a misnomer; the “starting roles” will be fluid. Luis Enrique has already shown this against Nice—expect other top coaches, from Mikel Arteta to Xabi Alonso, to copy the blueprint.

Conclusion: The Death of the Specialist

Football has always evolved, but the pace of change is now dizzying. Luis Enrique’s decision to play Nuno Mendes as a winger, Lucas Beraldo in midfield, and Kvicha Kvaratskhelia as a striker was not a one-off gimmick. It was a statement: versatility is the new superpower. In a sport where every opponent has access to the same data, the same formations, and the same pressing triggers, the only remaining advantage is the ability to be unpredictable. And unpredictability comes from players who can do the unexpected—who can shift from defender to attacker, from midfielder to forward, in the blink of an eye.

For clubs and coaches, the message is urgent: stop hunting for specialists. Start building squads full of shapeshifters. Because in the era of Luis Enrique, the team that can be anything is the team that can beat anyone. Nuno Mendes is not just a left-back anymore. He is a weapon. And in modern football, the most dangerous weapons are the ones that can change form at will.

Source: Based on news from Sky Sports.

Image: CC licensed via es.wikipedia.org