João Neves, the 22-year-old from PSG, is struggling to regain the form that made him shine under Luis Enrique. Since the start of the season, the Portuguese midfielder seems less present in the offensive phases, which worries his superiors as the club prepares a match in Strasbourg this Saturday and a duel against FC Barcelona next Tuesday in the Champions League.
The figures confirm this decline. Neves finds himself behind several teammates in the ranking of Parisian assists, notably behind Vitinha, Fabian Ruiz and Warren Zaire-Emery. Its contribution to game creation, which has always been one of its strong points, is now more discreet. His last goal for the club, scored in the semi-final first leg against Bayern Munich on April 28, has remained his only offensive goal since. Despite these less encouraging statistics, the coach has not lost confidence in himself, but he reminds that the starting place is not guaranteed for every match.
Luis Enrique recently relegated Neves to the team hierarchy, particularly after performances deemed insufficient. The player was not named a starter during the trip to Manchester City on Wednesday, a sign that the selection is becoming stricter. The club, aware of the competition within its squad, closely monitors small physical alerts, especially as international periods approach, in order to preserve the health of the players.
The match in Strasbourg represents a first opportunity for Neves to regain rhythm and prove his usefulness. However, the duel against Barça will be much more scrutinized, because the opponent imposes intense pressure on the midfield. PSG will need players who can hold onto the ball, resist pressure and create attacking solutions quickly. Neves, thanks to his experience and technical skills, has the qualities required to meet these requirements.
In summary, João Neves' season at PSG is marked by a drop in performance which raises questions about his future role. The club remains vigilant, but does not plan drastic measures. The next matches, notably against Strasbourg and Barcelona, will be decisive in determining whether the midfielder can return to his original level and consolidate his place in Luis Enrique's system.