PSG manager Thomas Tuchel has hinted that Neymar could be rested in the team’s encounter with Saint-Etienne in order to ensure that he is fit and ready to face Liverpool in the Champions League.
The Ligue 1 giants face Saint-Etienne on Friday evening but could rest several key players, with a daunting trip to Anfield in the opening Champions League group stage game ahead of them on Tuesday.
Neymar is a pivotal player for PSG and Tuchel lavished praise on the Brazilian in a recent press conference. As quoted by FourFourTwo, though, the manager toyed with the idea of resting him against Saint-Etienne.
The only problem is: what’s the risk for him tomorrow night? Can he play a whole match or less and still not look at the game in Liverpool? There was the match played Wednesday night, the flight, the jet lag, how he gets back… It’s the same for Marquinhos.
I really like him dribbling. In my opinion, it’s our challenge to create opportunities when Neymar can play with his strength, his dribbling skills. It is a collective effort, of course, and he adapts very well and he is always concerned by the team and not focused on his game.
Liverpool, having reached the Champions League final last season, will be desperate to get off to a good start in Europe’s most coveted club competition.
However, their European campaign will contain plenty of difficult tests as they head into a group that consists of Ligue 1 champions PSG, Serie A giants Napoli and Serbian outfit Red Star Belgrade.
Jurgen Klopp will be focusing his side on the upcoming Premier League clash with Tottenham Hotspur on Saturday, however, before he gives thought to the prospect of facing the likes of Neymar on Tuesday.
