Ancelotti: Nene´s attitude must improve

Carlo Ancelotti says Nene must act more professionally if he wants to regain his place in the Paris Saint-Germain side.

Despite eventually coming on in the 88th minute of PSG’s 2-1 Champions League win against Porto on Tuesday, the forward slapped the roof of the dugout and argued with coaches when he was called back to sit down after warming up.

As punishment for his tantrum, he has been omitted from the PSG squad for Saturday’s Ligue 1 visit of Evian, but his coach is willing to offer an olive branch, providing the Brazilian improves his attitude before next week’s match at Valenciennes.

“Nene did not behave well,” Ancelotti told a news conference on Friday. “He has to be more professional.

“If a player does not have a good attitude, I do not want him, he cannot help the team.

“I don’t know if he understands (why he has been dropped) or not. There was no discussion between him and me.

“I do not dislike Nene. He will be in the squad for (Tuesday’s) game at Valenciennes if he changes.”

PSG qualified as winners from Group A following their victory over the Portuguese giants, but while Ancelotti is pleased to have secured smooth progression in European competition, he is determined to replicate this form domestically.

“Our group was not very difficult but it is also true that we gave our best,” he added. “The first goal [of the season] has been achieved.

“The second is to win the league, but we are far away from it. We must catch up quickly. It’s time to win league and to find continuity if you want to be competitive.

“When you lose two straight games at home, it is difficult, but the season is not finished yet. In Ligue 1, we have not done a good-enough job and played badly at times.

“Hopefully (on Saturday), we will give it our all.”

The former Chelsea and AC Milan trainer must do without the services of midfielders Marco Verratti and Blaise Matuidi, both of whom are suspended for the match against Evian, but Thiago Motta is free to make his comeback from injury.

“Against Porto, Pastore played beautifully, but the game before that, no he did not,” he said.

“Verratti and Matuidi are suspended but Thiago Motta is available again. We were well-organised against Porto, and we will play 4-4-2 against Evian.”

Speculation linking Jose Mourinho with the position of head coach at PSG has intensified in recent weeks while Patrice Evra is a reported transfer target for the French club, but Ancelotti laughed off such rumours.

“I have had contact with Real Madrid. The last time I spoke with Real, it was three years ago,” he joked.

“It’s good to laugh a little. Yesterday, the president was at Camp des Loges (PSG’s training ground)]. He did not have time to speak for long, but he came to say ‘hello’.

“We also talked about Evra … No it’s not true!”