Gabigol plays down dressing-room issue, backs Neymar’s leadership at Santos | OneFootball

Gabigol has played down a dressing-room debrief after the 2-2 draw with Chapecoense, stressing Neymar’s leadership as Santos advanced to the Copa Sudamericana last 16.

According to Diario Do Peixe, the incident drew attention in the days before the Universidad Central tie after reports that the No 10 challenged team-mates, but Gabigol maintained nothing was out of the ordinary.

He framed the exchange as routine within football, noting that demands are made after every match and adding that they cannot concede two goals in that manner.

Gabigol said Neymar’s stature gives him a duty to speak, describing him as the team’s leader and one of the captains, and argued that the attention around him often amplifies events. Neymar had already denied any abnormal disagreement on social media, calling such demands common in the sport.

After eliminating Universidad Central 8-3 on aggregate, Santos now turn to the Copa do Brasil last 16. Their next match is against Remo on Saturday 1 at 21:00 at Vila Belmiro.

Source: Diario Do Peixe