Injury-time winner hands Tuchel 1st win with PSG

Neymar admits exaggerated reactions

SINGAPORE, July 30, (AFP): Virgiliu Postolachi’s injury-time strike handed Thomas Tuchel his first win as Paris Saint-Germain coach after a pulsating 3-2 victory over Atletico Madrid on Monday.

Postolachi, 18, curled a stunning shot past Antonio Adan to settle the friendly after Atletico had recovered from 2-0 down, helped by Antoine Bernede’s own goal on 86 minutes.

PSG welcomed back Angel Di Maria after World Cup duty and Italy’s Marco Verratti, but it was Christopher Nkunku and Moussa Diaby who put them 2-0 up before Victor Mollejo pulled one back for Atletico.

The win was welcome for German newcomer Tuchel, whose under-strength French champions have fallen 3-1 and 5-1 to Bayern Munich and Arsenal in their previous pre-season friendlies.

Nkunku’s tap-in on 32 minutes was the highlight of a drab first half in front of 22,007 fans at the 55,000-capacity Singapore National Stadium.

The 20-year-old midfielder was on hand to gobble up the rebound after a strong hint of a defensive handball in the Atletico box.

The lead was deserved for PSG, who had most of the play but created few clear chances apart from a longrange Di Maria free kick and Nkunku’s header from a Colin Dagba shot.

But Atletico were dangerous on the break. Angel Correa and Luciano Vietto both had shots blocked on the line and Kevin Gameiro fired over when one-on-one with goalkeeper Kevin Trapp.

PSG changed nine outfield players at half-time – a number that rose to 11 by 60 minutes, including an injury to substitute Alec Georgen – as the game opened up markedly.

Eighteen-year-old Tim Weah was denied by Antonio Adan and Adan then saved from Moussa Diaby – who rattled the crossbar from the edge of the box shortly afterwards.

But Diaby, 19, was not to be denied and made no mistake when he was selflessly put through by Weah on 71 top of the penalty area.

Meanwhile, Neymar has tackled critics who derided his play-acting at the World Cup, admitting he “overreacts” and blaming his “brat” like behaviour on his inner child.

The Brazilian superstar was widely lambasted in Russia for his theatrical reactions to challenges which often left the world’s most expensive footballer wincing and rolling on the ground.

“Boot studs on the shins, kick in the spine, stomp on the foot, you may think I overreact, and sometimes I do, but for real? I suffer on the pitch, but you have no idea what I go through outside of it,” he said in comments on a television commercial for a razor blade.

The Paris Saint-Germain forward, speaking in Portuguese with English subtitles, continued “You may all think I’ve fallen too much, but the reality is I did not fall, I crumbled.”

“And that hurts more than anyone stepping on your post op ankle,” he added, alluding to the surgery on the injury he suffered back in February.

“When I act like a brat, it isn’t because I’m a spoiled child, but because I still haven’t learned to deal with my frustrations.

“There’s still a boy inside of me, sometimes it dazzles the world. Other times it pisses every one off.

“And my fight is to keep this boy alive, but inside of me, not inside the field.”

He adds: “You can keep throwing rocks at me, or you can throw your rocks away and help me get up. Because when I do get up the whole of Brazil gets up with me.”

This is not the first time Neymar has addressed his taxing World Cup.

Paris Saint-Germain’s Stanley Nsoki (left), battles for the ball against Arsenal’s Henrikh Mkhitaryan during the International Champions Cup match between Arsenal and Paris Saint-Germain in Singapore on July 28.

(AP)