‘Will be careful in dealing with Neymar’s play-acting’
SINGAPORE: Paris Saint-Germain coach Thomas Tuchel pledged to keep his conversations with Neymar behind closed doors on Sunday as he weighs up how best to deal with the combustible star.
Neymar, the world’s most expensive player, was widely lampooned for his play-acting at the World Cup, but Tuchel refused to reveal if he would raise it with the Brazilian.
“I’m young -- well, not so young -- but I know when I speak about Neymar there’s a lot of potential to every word that I say,” said the 44-year-old German.
“So the best thing when I speak to him about something that we do this in closed rooms.”
Tuchel’s arrival at PSG follows reports of discord between Neymar and fellow forwards Kylian Mbappe and Edinson Cavani, as well as ex-coach Unai Emery.
Tuchel said he needed a close relationship with Neymar, whose difficult World Cup ended when Brazil were stunned by Belgium in the quarter-finals.
“I’m very sure that I have a connection with him and I’m very sure that I need to have a connection with these kinds of players,” Tuchel said.
“He’s an outstanding player. He knows how to handle big victories, he also knows how to handle defeats, because that’s the way sport is. It’s always a big challenge to bounce back.”
RABIOT URGED TO STAY
Meanwhile, Tuchel wants midfielder Adrien Rabiot to stay with the club following reported interest from Barcelona. Tuchel said Rabiot still had room to develop at his home town club.
“His talent is obvious, his potential is obvious,” Tuchel said.
“I think there are still more levels to reach (in this club).”