Neymar Steps Up
Paris Saint-Germain had been waiting for such a performance from Neymar, and the Brazilian more than delivered in Wednesday's Champions League victory over Liverpool.
The world's most expensive player scored what proved to be the winning goal as PSG beat last season's runners-up 2-1 to step back from the brink of an unthinkable group-stage exit.
His 14th goal of the season came at the end of a move he had initiated with his blinding pace. Neymar celebrated by performing a dance by the corner flag with Kylian Mbappe and posing for the cameras.
But Neymar's evening was about so much more than that.
Shortly after Juan Bernat's opening goal, Neymar rushed across to the touchline in front of the dugout to make a challenge and then waved his arms in a frenzy to whip up the crowd.
He spent much of the second half running his socks off to help PSG defend their lead, and he also upset Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp for being supposedly "clever" in winning fouls and buying time.
"I was not 100 per cent," Neymar told reporters, via L'Equipe. "But it was an important match so, injured or not, I had to be there."
"For us it was all or nothing. We suffered quite a bit but we are relieved that we won, played well and showed the strength of our squad," Neymar said. "We need to celebrate that. After the game we were shouting, jumping around, dancing, so we are happy."
PSG could have been eliminated with a defeat, but are now above Liverpool in Group C and head to Red Star Belgrade in their final game in a fortnight with qualification for the last 16 in their hands.
"It was clever of PSG, especially Neymar, but a lot of other players went down like it was really something serious and we were not that calm any more," Klopp said. We were aggressive, and unfortunately negative aggression doesn't help in football, we got rather frustrated and angry.
"But we have to deal with it, that's our job. If the referee lets that happen then we have to deal with it."
Asked what more the officials could have done, Klopp replied: “I could say 500,00 things. You can give yellow cards for everything. You act like you die and the next minute get up again? It is not sportsman-like behaviour. It is hectic and was not football anymore. I do not say Paris did not deserve (to win)."
It was a big night personally for Neymar, in PSG's most important Champions League game since the last 16, second leg against Real Madrid last season, which the Brazilian missed due to injury.
This was probably the French club's most significant result in the competition since they beat Barcelona 4-0 in the last 16 two seasons ago.
However, Neymar was far from the only man responsible. There were big performances throughout, with Marco Verratti impressive in midfield, and Thiago Silva towering over everyone in central defence.
Comments