The 28-year-old Brazilian was unable to inspire PSG to such heights. Indeed, his Champions League record with PSG is worthy of nine wins from 15 games.
Neymar in PSG 2 years without Champions League trophy
Less than five months after the production of one of the most fabulous Champions League appearances ever seen. Neymar left Barcelona with the target of turning Paris SG into an outfit capable of winning the trophy. Now in his third season in Paris. The 28-year-old Brazilian was unable to inspire PSG to such heights. In both of their previous campaigns, their challenge stalled at the last-16 stage – precisely. The moment when his virtuoso performance at the Camp Nou led to the victory of Barcelona 6-1 and the cancellation of the 4-0 deficit of the first leg to make the word “repair” in the vocabulary of every severe football fan. Neymar’s two late goals that night helped consolidate his legacy as the third football of his generation for Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo. They seemed to set him up to what, in the opinion of many, would be his peak years.
222 Million for a sad story
Paris SG, of course, believed, so they splashed about the world record fee of € 222 million (£ 200 million / $ 263 million). Despite returning 66 goals and 39 assists to City of Lights, recorded at a rate that far exceeded what he had previously achieved in his career. Major honours such as the Champions League or Ballon d’Or remain unattainable. The windy fall expected from Neymar not scheduled on the field. Although PSG has others in its composition with a specific match class – Kylian Mbappe, Angel Di Maria, and Keylor Navas to name. But somewhat – the responsibility rests with the native of São Paulo if the chips go downwards. He may have won the 2014-15 Champions League with Barca, but now there is no Leo Messi to fall back on. This is the story, of Neymar’s team.
The injury robbed him of the chance
With the playoff stages of the latest expansion fast approaching. The centre of attention once again turned to the former star of Santos with the expectation in Paris that he would finally bring them back to the last stages of the tournament. Luck, of course, spoke against him in the recent past. The injury robbed him of the chance to play the second leg of a clash of 2018 with Real Madrid. Connection in which Parisians were comprehensively beaten during the final season of the Unai Emery club, while he missed both legs of an abusive exit to the weak side of Manchester United last season.
PSG failed twice in the last two years
That Paris SG failed for each of the last two years, should not be held against him. Indeed, his Champions League record with PSG is worthy with nine wins from 15 games, while two of the three defeats he suffered came against Real Madrid and Liverpool, clubs that subsequently went on to win the game. By the way, another arrived against Bayern Munich in a far adaptation, which was mostly a decisive match. His separate report, meanwhile, gets up well to research, although present for only one knockout game, his ability to test himself on the biggest stage was scant. However, a record of 12 goals and seven helps in the fixtures that he played cannot be neglected.
Neymar’s attitude remains a question
The injury concerns dog Neymar as a trip to the Borussia Dortmund approach. He could not play in any of the last four PSG games due to a bruised rib. Although he expected to perform at Signal-Iduna Park, questions about his readiness for the match remain until the meeting, which promises to be the toughest challenge for League 1 leaders of the season to date. But the player’s attitude also remains in question. A few hours after being injured, he visited his birthday at a Parisian nightclub, obviously not eligible, while last week, he was photographed at a fashion event in Düsseldorf, as his side had built for a trip to Germany on professional affairs.
“For a normal person, this is a grain of sand that will not be very inferior. But for an athlete, it can be very restrictive, like an amputation.” A former doctor of Paris Saint Germain and France, Serge Dubeau explained to journalists about Neymar’s injury. The nature of which was not clearly defined.”The question “why he can engage in such extracurricular activities, but not necessarily play.”Will this pain prevent him from being in better condition? This is also a matter of temperament. I don’t know if, for example, Jean-Pierre Papin or Lilian Laslandes would throw in the towel for this.”
Meanwhile, Brazilian legend Cafu said last week, answering a question from his compatriot: “If he takes responsibility, in the coming years he will become one of the best players in the world.”Physical problems still deprived him of the opportunity to show both his character and his quality in Europe. Even in the coming days, the world should have a much better idea of whether Neymar can reach the heights that his talent so long promised. That’s when it matters. This is when an era can be defined.