PETALING JAYA: Midfielder Nacho Mendez stepped into unfamiliar territory when he signed for Johor Darul Ta’zim (JDT) after spending his entire professional career at one club in Spain.
Instead of grappling in the dark for a long time, the 27-year-old Mendez has quickly established himself as a key figure for the defending Super League champions.
He has already featured in 29 matches across all competitions this season, scoring three goals and providing nine assists.
In fact, no other JDT player has made more appearances, underlining his importance as coach Xisco Munoz’s trusted midfield general.
Mendez, who spent nine years with Sporting Gijon from 2016 to 2025, is loving his stint with the Southern Tigers.
“I didn’t know what I would find here because I had no knowledge of the teams or the league, but it has been very good,” said Mendez.
“I found a great environment in Johor with good facilities, a good stadium, and a strong team.
“There are also many good teams, like Kuching and Selangor. Overall, it’s been a very positive experience, and I’m happy.”
The Spaniard could end up playing more than 50 matches this season if JDT progress deep into the AFC Champions League Elite, the Shopee Asean Club Championship and the Malaysia Cup, a schedule far more demanding than what he was used to in Spain.
“I’m not used to playing this many games. In Spain, I was used to a weekly schedule,” he said.
“Playing every two or three days across multiple competitions requires a lot of focus.
“But as players, we love matches more than training, so it’s a good challenge.’’
One major adjustment for Mendez, however, has been the playing conditions in the Malaysian League.
“Adapting to the pitches is probably the most difficult part,” he admitted.
“It would be good for the league and the country if more teams followed JDT’s path in developing their facilities.
“When that happens, the level of the league will rise, and more high-quality players will want to come here.
“My game relies on moving the ball quickly on the ground, which is harder on this type of grass, but you have to adapt.”
Mendez was among the scorers in JDT’s recent 2-0 away win over Selangor, a result he described as one of the most demanding tests of the season.
“We knew it would be a difficult match because Selangor have been playing well.
“Away games are always tough, especially with the pitch conditions, but we started strongly and found an early goal with a bit of luck.
“We controlled the game well, didn’t concede much, and we’re very happy to take three points from what is probably the toughest away game in the league.
“It’s a great way to start the year and a very important victory for the club.”
