From our special correspondent in Lisbon,
“Neymar is always the key,” says Thomas Tuchel. And it will be all the more true this Wednesday, against Atalanta Bergamo, with the absences of Angel Di Maria, Marco Verratti and Kylian Mbappé. More than ever, PSG will indeed need the talent and qualities of its Brazilian genius. Good news: after missing the choppy matches of the Champions League on the occasion of his first two seasons in Paris, the ex-Barcelona is good for the service in Lisbon. In addition, "he returned in a good state of mind, in good shape" after confinement and his retirement in his villa in Rio, as Thomas Tuchel rejoices. “It gains in capacity very quickly,” he adds. We have seen this during the friendly matches and the two finals, with the goal of victory against ASSE in the Coupe de France (1-0).
On a mission
Stirring, involved and above all decisive, "Ney" is on a mission, determined to offer his first Cup to big ears in Paris. It would be his second in a personal capacity. "For me, the Champions League is a dream," he promises. If so, he could finally really enter the hearts of the Red and Blue supporters. After a summer of 2019 marked by ambitions of departure and unwelcome statements about the "remountada", "the best memory of (his) career", the rag has burned. "I will play all the matches as if I were away from home," he said after ... having been heavily insulted, whistled, booed by the Parc des Princes during his resumption match against Strasbourg (1-0 ). He was also the one who freed Paris Saint-Germain that night, with an extraordinary return from the left in stoppage time. Total treat. Water has flowed under the bridges since then. It must be said that the former Barcelona is committed to giving as much token of affection as possible to Paris, in his communication on social networks. Above all, he shines on the green rectangle and respects the institution, the club, the supporters, whose trust he wants to honor.
“I am motivated, very focused on the Champions League. We have a solid group and have achieved a historic qualification. I can't wait to get back on the ground and, God willing, make history. "
Neymar"I am motivated, very focused on the Champions League, he repeats from the confinement on his official website. We have a solid group and have achieved a historic qualification. I can't wait to get back on the ground and, God willing, make history. Irreproachable from every point of view. “People see him as a superstar, with everything around him, but he's a great person,” his teammate Ander Herrera reported in the Spanish press. I had two injuries at the start of the season. I was in the locker room, shot after the second, and Ney came up to me. He told me that he had also gone through difficult times with his two injuries and that we should go to dinner together to talk about it, that it might help me through this moment. People don't see these kinds of little things. He's a good guy. "
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After two seasons of adaptation, the Brazilian seems at ease in Paris. Moreover, a return to Barça no longer seems to be on the agenda at all and there is even talk here and there of an extension. "I think I'm having my best moments in Paris," said the Parisian number 10 recently. We are a family that shares the same great goal that lies before us. We want to mark this season with the Champions League. " Like a fish in water. "He is always reliable when the important games arrive," said his coach. There will be only that in Lisbon ...
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