Player Focus: Yohan Mollo (Nancy - On Loan)

Going into the week 31 you might be surprised to hear that AS Nancy currently sit top of the form table in Ligue 1. Over the past few years Les Chardons relied on former Coach Pablo Correa to orchestrate a last gasp survival keeping the side from Tomblaine in the top flight.

Under new boss Jean Fernandez, Nancy have won four out of the last five games and sit 11th in the table with only eight games to go. Last weekend ASNL stopped PSG in their tracks with a 2-1 victory and the Parisians now face a test of character after tasting defeat at the Stade Marcel Picot.

In all honesty the result shouldn’t have been too much of a shock, in the four games that Nancy have recently won their opponents included Lyon and Montpellier, not exactly easy games for anyone. In those games, and against PSG, one player stood head and shoulders above the rest. 22-year old French midfielder Yohan Mollo, the versatile playmaker, has been at his very best in recent weeks.

Setting up Bakaye Traore for Nancy’s opener and then with a few seconds remaining he ghosted away from his markers and fired a low shot past ‘keeper Salvatore Sirigu, handing Carlo Ancelotti his first defeat in Ligue 1 and giving his side a wonderful chance of avoiding the almost inevitable relegation dog-fight in the coming weeks.

Mollo finished the game with a WhoScored.com rating of 8.8 and was undoubtedly the Man of the Match. Getting on the ball 60 times, only left-back Massadio Haidara was more involved during the game. Mollo had two successful dribbles, two shots on goal and four key passes and only gave the ball away four times. Not bad for a player who loves to take his opponents on, and boy does he have the skills and ability to do that at will.

Man of the match against PSG and arguably Nancy’s best player this season, game after game you can see him grow in confidence; as his play improves so does the team’s. Currently on loan from Spanish side Granada, the midfielder only left Ligue 1 last summer but already looks destined for a permanent return comes the season’s end.

Last season Mollo spent the year developing under Franck Dumas at SM Caen and the 21-year old finished the season with a rating of 6.74 managing four goals and three assists as Caen escaped relegation to Ligue 2 on the final day of the season. Mollo had been inspirational in the final few weeks and his crucial goal against Marseille on the final day had the home fans praying he’d remain at the Stade Michel d’Orano for the following season.

Unlike Caen, Mollo’s parent club didn’t survive relegation on the final day of the season, and as they were demoted to Ligue 2 AS Monaco would have to let the midfielder go as the Monegasque club entered into a fire-sale of sorts - Mollo only one of the many talented players leaving the principality.

During his time in Ligue 1 it had been rumoured that PSG, Marseille and other European giants had been monitoring Mollo and a move to another Ligue 1 club seemed the most obvious option, so when he signed for newly promoted Spanish side Granada the moved raised a few eyebrows.

Six appearances for Granada and six months on from his move to Spain and Mollo was clearly not having a good time in La Liga. The January transfer window had only been open for a day when Jean Fernandez came in and brought Mollo back to France. When you watch the Martigues-born midfielder play it is easy to see why Fernandez jumped at the chance to bring him back. Very skilful when on the ball, he has the tricks and the flicks combined with a powerful frame and burst of pace to leave defenders in his wake.

Cousin to Marseille striker Andre-Pierre Gignac, Mollo used to be the lesser known of the family. Now with his performances on the rise and Gignac fading into football oblivion there is no doubt which player of the two will be going onto great things.

Since January, Mollo has scored two goals for his new club and has also provided five assists. Nancy as a club have only scored 12 goals in 2012, showing the importance and stature Mollo holds in such a short space of time. He leads the club with a rating of 7.28 from 11 appearances.

Averaging 1.6 shots per game and 3.4 key passes he is Nancy’s most dangerous weapon, and being fouled 2.7 times a game shows the other teams are well aware of his threat. It is obvious he is still developing, showing more maturity in his decision making at 22 he has the ability to go as far as he wants.

Once the season ends Mollo will have to make a decision about his future, he could try his luck in Spain again or he could remain in France. His performances will have increased his price so Nancy might not be an option. This time it would be very surprising if the other Ligue 1 clubs let him leave the league again.