Player Focus: Nene (PSG)

Last weekend’s draw against Auxerre dropped Paris Saint-Germain two points behind Montpellier in the race for the Ligue 1 title. Coach Carlo Ancelotti questioned his team’s ability and warned the players their mentality would have to change if they were to have any chance of lifting Le Championnat.

Welcoming relegation strugglers Sochaux to the Parc des Princes could have provided a tricky test for the Parisians and the home side came out of the blocks quickly. €42 million man Javier Pastore burst forward, playing a number of lovely one-twos as he danced through the Sochaux defence, cut back onto his right foot and drilled the ball past Teddy Richert.

Expectant fans at the Parc des Princes knew not to get carried away, attacking hasn’t been the problem, it has been defensive blunders that have cost the capital side points, and again the lead only lasted six minutes. Sochaux midfielder Marvin Martin launched a hopeful ball into the area. Modibo Maiga went up to challenge Salvatore Sirigu, and as PSG’s keeper flapped the striker headed into an empty net. Groans echoed out around the stadium. Was this to be the same old problem for Les Rouge-et-Bleu?

This is what Ancelotti had talked about, how PSG would react, who would step up and be counted? Step forward Brazilian midfielder Nene. The midfield talisman raised his game and led the charge, and under his superb performance the floodgates opened.

It was Nene’s free-kick that set up Thiago Motta for the Italian’s first goal in Ligue 1 as the former Inter Milan player met the ball with a beautiful diving header. Jeremy Menez quickly made it 3-1. In the second half Nene then turned a cameo performance into a starring role with two goals in five minutes.

It was the first time this season PSG had scored five goals, and they would later add a sixth through Sylvain Armand. The win didn’t just make a statement as to the quality this team possesses but it wiped out the goal difference advantage Montpellier had held over PSG, two points and one goal separate the top two and it looks like this title battle will go all the way to the final day.

Nene’s performance was outstanding, winning him a staggering 12th Man of the Match award according to the WhoScored.com ratings. It was another perfect 10 for the Brazilian, his second of the season. Two shots on target led to the two goals having had 65 touches, an 80% passing accuracy and made three key passes. Only one successful dribble showed that he was playing for his team and not in the individualistic style that has plagued PSG at times this season.

Importantly for the team it was Nene back to his best and using all of his experience to lead this side towards Le Championnat. It was only four games ago when he was dropped in the 2-1 defeat to Nancy that rumours surfaced of an enraged Nene claiming he would never wear the famous jersey again. Of course, this was all denied and the Brazilian was back in the side for the 2-1 win over rivals Marseille.

Since Ancelotti took over the side in January he has found it hard to play an effective formation including Nene with the marquee summer signings of Javier Pastore and Jeremy Menez. The money spent on the Argentine midfielder means he has to play as much as possible and Menez is the Parisian born son, back to play for his childhood team. Nene, from the view of the Qatari owners, becomes the easiest one of the three to drop, despite being a fan-favourite and undoubtedly the best player at the club.

This season the midfielder has 16 goals – only four behind top scorer Olivier Giroud and joint with Eden Hazard – seven assists and a WhoScored.com rating of 7.86. Next on PSG’s list is Jeremy Menez on 7.24. Nene has been directly involved in 36.5% of PSG’s goals this season. He is PSG’s main creative influence, averaging 3 shots per game, 3.7 key passes – leading all players in the top five European leagues – and when he gets wide he is one of the most deadly players in the league with 2.4 accurate crosses per game. It is lucky that Ancelotti and director Leonardo have the money of QSI to rely on as when Nene decides to leave it is going to take an almighty sum to replace him.

He may be on the wrong side of 30 but there is little doubt that if PSG do go on to win the title this year it won’t all be down to the millions invested by the Qatari owners. It should, in a large part, be remembered for the meandering runs, deft touch and deadly finishing of a Brazilian that cost a paltry €5.5 million back in 2010.

The banner at the Parc des Prince reads “ICI C’EST PARIS!” Maybe it should read “NENE C’EST MAGNIFIQUE!”