'Neymar can't do everything' - Tuchel defends PSG star's display

Thomas Tuchel defended Neymar’s lackluster performance in PSG’s Champions League final defeat by insisting ‘he cannot do everything’.

After playing a big part in Paris Saint-Germain’s progress in the knockout stages, Neymar was widely expected to seize his big moment on Sunday by leading the club to Champions League glory.

This was the reason that he claims to have convinced him to head to France in 2017 above anything else.

But when the moment Neymar had been craving for these last few years finally came, he couldn’t step up. The Brazilian failed to impose himself at all during the final and had no answer for Bayern Munich.

Despite a bright start that saw him hustle and pressure the Bayern defense, Neymar faded as the game progressed. His best chance was saved by Manuel Neuer. Thus, he’s not scored since the last-16 stage.

14 & 47% – Neymar’s 🇧🇷 last 14 shots in the Champions League:

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The Brazilian lost 47% of the touches he made tonight (27/57)

Mess.#UCLFinal #PSGBayern pic.twitter.com/BRRkvJHKQT

— Optajean (@OptaJean) August 23, 2020

Kylian Mbappe also failed to score, but he did only recently return from an ankle injury.

“Neymar has had a great tournament, he cannot do everything,” said PSG boss Tuchel, according to Diario AS.

“Mbappe, it’s a miracle that he was with us after sustaining a serious [ankle] injury [in July].”

The wait for Champions League glory continues for PSG, with Marseille the only French club to win the competition in 1992/93.

Kingsley Coman’s header just before the hour-mark sealed Bayern a 1-0 win and a sixth European title. It might have been a different story, though, had luck swung in PSG’s favor.

Not only did Manuel Neuer brilliantly deny Neymar, but the Bayern keeper stopped Mbappe from close range. Angel Di Maria and Ander Herrera also missed chances.

“Never forget about luck in football…I honestly think that if we had scored the first goal, we would have won the game,” Tuchel said on the final result.

“We have to accept it. It’s not easy, but we can be proud, because we battled well against one of the best teams in the world.

“We gave everything. We left our hearts on the pitch. We did what we had to win, and we lacked a clinical streak.”