Olympic-winning Brazil coach says Neymar is vital for the Seleção | OneFootball

Olympic champion with the Brazilian National Team in 2016, coach Rogério Micale came to the defense of Neymar after the number 10 was left out of Carlo Ancelotti’s latest squad. In an interview, the coach praised the striker’s decisive role and said he considers him “indispensable” for the team’s future.

“I always say, for me Neymar is the standout of the generation, he’s the player who makes the difference. I experienced this, I worked with him in training, I saw the potential to get close to what he can do, what he is capable of doing. He is still our greatest talent. He’s a winner, someone who likes to win, doesn’t like to lose games. I think that spirit is super important anywhere, in a club, in the National Team,” Micale said in an interview with the podcast #TáNoJogo.

The coach, however, showed respect for Ancelotti’s decision. “The way I see it, the criteria used for not calling him up, only Ancelotti knows. Only he knows what he’s building with this new National Team. If he thought it best not to bring him now, for some reason, we have to respect that. I think Neymar also respects that,” he added.

Neymar’s absence was explained by the National Team coach himself. In a press conference at Granja Comary, Ancelotti confirmed that the decision was technical, but emphasized the importance of the physical aspect: “No one can question Neymar’s technical level. What we analyze is his physical condition, but also that of all the players here. This National Team has a lot of competition.”

Neymar, in turn, assured that he is fine. After the draw between Santos and Fluminense on Sunday, the number 10 said there are no medical issues preventing him from playing. “It was an adductor edema, nothing serious. I was left out for technical reasons, it has nothing to do with my physical condition. I respect the coach’s decision.”

Even after recovering, the star had a discreet performance against Fluminense, fueling the debate about his current form. Still, for Micale, the player’s importance goes beyond his current phase.

“It’s not about wanting to put Neymar above everything, but he doesn’t need to prove anything to anyone, we know what he can deliver. I saw an interview with Ancelotti talking about this, no one questions what Neymar can offer the National Team technically, maybe what’s questioned is the moment he’s rebuilding himself physically and technically, after a long time out. So, I think Neymar is indispensable, I think he’s still the player who can make a difference for us,” he concluded.

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This article was translated into English by Artificial Intelligence. You can read the original version in 🇧🇷 here.