Penalty row is PSG’s big issue

Paris, Sept. 22: Paris SaintGermain coach Unai Emery refused to name his first-choice penalty taker on Thursday, after Neymar and Edinson Cavani’s apparent falling out against Lyon last week.

The Ligue 1 leaders travel to Montpellier on Saturday looking to make it seven straights wins to kick off the season, after smashing spending records in the close season to compile the fearsome ‘MCN’ front line of Neymar, Cavani and Kylian Mbappe.

But the South American pair disagreed over who should take a penalty in the 2-0 win over Lyon, before Cavani saw his effort saved by Anthony Lopes, with Neymar appearing to walk away shaking his head in disgust. “The two players who will be taking the penalties are Cavani and Neymar,” Emery told a press conference on Thursday.

“(That is) because they’re capable of assuming this responsibility, but other players can take them. During training we practice penalties because when the decisive moment arrives and we can win a title with penalties, we will need more than two. Last year, the penalty taker was Cavani, this year with the arrival of Neymar there are two. Who is number one and who is number two, I will make that decision,” he added. Neymar will miss Paris Saint-Germain’s Ligue 1 game at Montpellier on Saturday after the world’s most expensive player injured his right foot, French media reports.

The Brazilian striker has made an immediate impact at his new club with four goals and four assists from his first five outings since moving to the French capital from Barcelona.

According to Radio RMC on Friday, the injury does not throw into doubt Neymar's participation in Wednesday's Champions League clash against Bayern Munich. — AFP