PARIS, Feb 2, 2020 (BSS/AFP) – Paris Saint-Germain coach Thomas Tuchel
admitted Neymar’s latest lavish birthday celebrations were a “distraction” at
a key time in the season after the Brazilian helped the Ligue 1 leaders to a
5-0 win over nine-man Montpellier on Saturday.
Neymar, with his hair dyed pink, shook off an injury scare and raged with
the match officials while Pablo Sarabia, Angel Di Maria, Kylian Mbappe and
Layvin Kurzawa all scored along with a Daniel Congre own goal as PSG went 13
points clear of Marseille at the top of the table.
On Sunday, the Brazilian is set to host a lavish party for his 28th
birthday at a Parisian nightclub, despite his team playing again on Tuesday
against Nantes.
“It’s a distraction, that’s clear,” said Tuchel. “I always want to protect
my players, and if there are difficult things to talk about I prefer to say
them internally.
“These are distractions, and they give the impression we are not serious,
not professional. But I don’t really want to talk about it because then these
things become big issues.”
Neymar warmed up with a shirt bearing the name of Kobe Bryant and the
number 24 of the basketball star who was killed in a helicopter crash last
weekend. While Neymar didn’t score, having to settle just for one assist, he
produced his usual tricks, provoked the opposition, and required lengthy
treatment at the end of the first half after appearing to hurt his ribs as he
grappled for the ball with Montpellier’s Arnaud Souquet.
Unhappy with the some of the treatment reserved for him, Neymar was booked
for dissent in the first half and was then caught by television cameras
angrily remonstrating in Portuguese with the fourth official in the tunnel at
half-time.
– Mbappe anger at substitution –
Tuchel was also forced to answer questions about Mbappe’s angry reaction to
being taken off midway through the second half, as Edinson Cavani came on for
a first appearance since a January move to Atletico Madrid fell through.
“It doesn’t look good, but we are not the only club where players react
like that,” the coach said.
“This team shows how professional and focused they are every day, but this
gives the impression it’s not always like that and I’m sad because it’s not
necessary.
“I explained to him why he came off and that will be that. I always make
decisions for sporting reasons. This is football, not tennis, and you have to
respect everyone.”
Sarabia was selected ahead of Mauro Icardi and Cavani to start with Mbappe
up front, and the former Real Madrid player curled home a fine opener from 22
yards in the eighth minute for his 10th goal of the season.
Montpellier’s hopes of getting back into the game were then as good as over
when goalkeeper Dimitry Bertaud was sent off in the 17th minute for coming
out of his box to stop Mbappe bearing down on goal, only to block the ball
with his arm and receive a straight red.
On came young debutant goalkeeper Matis Carvalho and he had to pick the
ball out of his net twice before the interval.
Di Maria lifted the ball over him and in to make it 2-0 in the 41st minute,
and shortly afterwards Teji Savanier’s attempt to clear a Di Maria corner
rebounded off the face of defender Congre and in.
After Neymar cooled down at the break, he set up Mbappe to round Carvalho
and score his 14th league goal of the season.
Kurzawa drilled in the fifth in the 65th minute, and the visitors were
reduced to nine men late on as substitute Joris Chotard saw two quick yellow
cards.
Marseille go to Bordeaux on Sunday looking for a first win there in 43
years, while Rennes strengthened their grip on third by scoring twice in
injury time to claim a 3-2 win over Nantes on Friday.
Elsewhere on Saturday, Monaco’s problems continued as they had two men sent
off in the first half and lost 3-1 at Nimes. They remain 13th. Victor
Osimhen’s late penalty gave Lille a 2-1 victory at Strasbourg to leave them
fourth.