MX23RW : Saturday, May 4 11:58:06| >> :120:43799:43799:

Thomas Tuchel insists Neymar committed to PSG

Thomas Tuchel insists Neymar committed to PSG
© Reuters
The 27-year-old was linked with a departure in the summer but has scored match-winning goals in each of the club's last two games.

Paris St Germain head coach Thomas Tuchel insisted Neymar was "100 per cent with us" after his goal gave the Ligue 1 champions a 1-0 victory at Lyon.

Neymar was booed by his own fans during the match against Strasbourg last weekend, having been heavily linked with a return to Barcelona over the summer.

The Brazil international netted a stoppage-time winner on that occasion and was on target with another decisive late strike again on Sunday.

It looked like PSG would fail to find the net in a league fixture for the first time in 44 outings until a moment of brilliance with three minutes remaining.

Neymar received a pass from Angel Di Maria inside the Lyon area and, despite being surrounded by four defenders, he created enough space to shoot through Joachim Andersen's legs and into the far corner of the net.

His strike was not as late, or spectacular, as the one against Strasbourg, but the outcome was the same – three points for PSG.

Neymar's winner also served as the ideal response to being targeted by objects thrown from the stands. The missiles, which appeared to largely consist of paper rolled into balls, rained down on the Brazil international whenever he took a corner in the second half.

Tuchel said in his press conference after the match: "He's 100 per cent with us. He is 100 per cent in the group. He laughs, he is reliable, he is completely there with his team-mates. It's normal, it's necessary.

"It's his job. He's here to score and be decisive. It's Neymar. I expect that every time. I am demanding with him.

"This is only his third match in four months. He is not yet 100 per cent and he will do better. He will gain in physical capacity with the matches and this will help him. Ney is always decisive, he is always creative and he looks ahead."

Neymar's goal was arguably what PSG deserved, having dominated the match and been denied by a series of fine saves from Anthony Lopes in the first half.

Tuchel was relieved to get the win, which saw his team open up a three-point lead at the top of the table.

"It's always the same, we cannot control the result but only our performance," he said. "We had chances and we managed to control the game, it was super tight.

"Lyon play in the Champions League, they decided to defend low and tight. We had a lot of touches in the opposing area but we had to be patient, that's how we find the way through. We did not concede a goal either, so it's great."

ID:372476: cacheID:372476:1false2false3false:QQ:: from db desktop :LenBod:restore:3803:
Restore Data
Share this article now:
PSG manager Thomas Tuchel pictured on September 18, 2019
Read Next:
PSG boss Thomas Tuchel reflects on "demanding" game with Real Madrid
>
Read more about Neymar Thomas Tuchel Football
rhs 2.0
Today's games header
Tables header RHS
TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
CParis Saint-GermainPSG312010176294770
2MonacoMonaco31177758411758
3Brest31168749331656
4Lille311510645271855
5Nice31149836251151
6Lens32147114234849
7Marseille31111194738944
8Lyon31135134251-944
9Rennes31119114841742
10Montpellier HSCMontpellier321011114144-340
11Toulouse321010123942-340
12Reims31117133845-740
13StrasbourgStrasbourg3199133444-1036
14NantesNantes3195172949-2032
15Le HavreLe Havre31611143041-1129
16Metz3185183251-1929
17Lorient3268183763-2626
18Clermont31510162550-2525


Sports Mole provides in-depth previews and predictions for every match from the biggest leagues and competitions in world football.
Argentina's Lionel Messi kisses the World Cup trophy after collecting the Golden Ball award on December 18, 2022Sign up for our FREE daily preview newsletter direct to your inbox!