Manchester City: João Neves’ shocking performance

This Wednesday evening, PSG played their qualification or almost against Manchester City as part of the penultimate day of the group stage of the Champions League. At the Parc des Princes, defeat was forbidden for Luis Enrique’s team. And as usual, for the most important match of the season, the Spanish coach had surprises in store, notably the absence of Ousmane Dembélé on the bench and the tenure of Fabian Ruiz in midfield. The latter was preferred to Warren Zaire-Emery.

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But if the Spanish midfielder was scrutinized with great interest and sometimes whistled by the public at the Park, the eyes of some 48,000 spectators present at the stadium were riveted on another player: Joao Neves. At the age of 20, the Portuguese international produced an exceptional performance. This kind of performance at Champions League level and which wins you a match. If he had started with a header off target at the far post (9th), he then gained momentum. Able to single-handedly extinguish the opposing pressure, the former Benfica player showed much more commitment than his other midfield teammates.

All over the field

In the oven and the mill, in creation, in recovery, he used his technique to create danger. With 70% of duels won in this match (11 duels won, which is enormous in a match of this style), Joao Neves was the most active Parisian. To the delight of his coach Luis Enrique who was thus able to count on the ability of his environment to literally know how to do everything. “Several emotions shared, we dominated in the first period. In the second, we could have come back better, they took control of the match. Even losing 2-0, we managed to come back, I’m very happy. We have always had the same ideas, the same philosophy of the game. That’s the secret. We stayed focused on the next, ball, the next action. Yes, we know there is still one match left, that’s the most important thing. In three days, we have an L1 match, we are focused on that one”confided the player after the meeting.

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Already by far the best Parisian before the 78th minute, he confirmed all debate by offering victory to his team with a header at the far post. As in the first half, he found himself strangely alone, taking advantage of City’s defensive generosity. And this time, he didn’t tremble when he hit his helmet. A goal which gave victory to his team and which sealed his comeback. Above all, he confirmed that Joao Neves, despite his youth, is undoubtedly the technical and tactical leader of Luis Enrique’s PSG. “I wouldn’t have given him the man of the match trophy (laughs)”quipped Gianluigi Donnarumma in the mixed zone before returning more seriously to his teammate’s performance. “No, Joao Neves is an exceptional player. Nothing to say. But tonight, the whole team was exceptional. It’s the team that gets the man of the match.” It is true that PSG delivered a more than successful performance. But this time, it’s Joao Neves who stands out.