PSG IN GOOD SPIRITS
Neymar and Co ready for Napoli test
NEYMAR and Kylian Mbappe led the way as Paris Saint-Germain completed their preparations for their Champions League clash against Napoli today.
The French giants wrapped up warm in hats, snoods and gloves as they took to the pitch at their Ooredoo Training Centre yesterday.
Neymar and his French colleague looked in good spirits as they chatted in the warm-up and exchanged passes up and down the pitch.
Manager Thomas Tuchel delivered some final tactical instructions before his team welcome their Serie A opponents to Parc des Princes.
Group C is finely poised at present with Napoli top on four points and PSG and Liverpool both on three after two games.
The French giants come into the game on the back of a sensational 5-0 Ligue 1 victory over Amiens on Saturday that maintained their 100 per cent start to the domestic season.
Mbappe, Marquinhos, Adrien Rabiot, Julian Draxler and Moussa Diaby were all on target as the Parisians clinched their 10th win from 10 games.
On Sunday, Barcelona president Josep Maria Bartomeu dismissed reports linking Neymar with a return to the Nou Camp.
The Brazilian left the club 14 months ago for PSG in a worldrecord deal. But after being left disappointed and disenchanted with the quality of Ligue 1, Neymar is reportedly keen to return. Bartomeu has since ruled that out though.
“Neymar left and is not expected to return to Barca, there are no plans to bring him back,” he said.
“No one is scheduled to be signed in January, unless we are told something that would see a change in plans.
“This is a smaller squad because there are B players who have given strong signals that they can be on the first team.”
Meanwhile, PSG goalkeeper Gianluigi Buffon, who left Juventus during the summer transfer window after a 17-year spell at the club, is hoping their paths don’t cross in the Champions League this year.
The 40-year-old insists he wouldn’t want to face Juventus in the final because he doesn’t want to win at the expense of his former club.
“No (I don’t want to face Juve in the final),” he said. “I do not want my joy to be a consequence of the sadness of my former teammates and fans. We have already cried too many times together. I deserve full joy.”