Ronald Koeman has called on referees to ensure more protection on the pitch for the likes of Neymar, Lionel Messi, and Cristiano Ronaldo.
Football fans were hoping to see Messi and Neymar get their ‘re-union’ this week. However, none of that will be happening.
Barcelona welcomes PSG to the Nou Camp for their Champions League round of 16 clash on Tuesday. Sadly for the French giants, one of their most influential players would be unavailable.
Neymar picked up an injury in his side’s French Cup win over Caen last week. The game ended on a sad note for the Brazilian as he was unable to complete that match. The 29-year-old limped off the pitch after an overly aggressive tackle from Steeve Yago.
Mauricio Pochetinno was furious after the game and called on officials to keep an eye out for unnecessary tackles that put players in harm. As one would expect, players like Neymar, Messi and Ronaldo are one of a kind and the opposition would do whatever to stop them.
Barca boss Ronald Koeman has now called for match officials to protect the aforementioned players to prevent them from needless injuries.
“You have to protect this type of player,” Koeman said when asked about Neymar in his pre-match press conference.
“Players like Neymar, [Lionel] Messi, Cristiano Ronaldo…”
“Because they are the players who allow us to enjoy ourselves. Referees have to protect them, although there is contact in this sport.”
Neymar has now missed a quarter of PSG’s Champions League games and will have been ruled out of the last 16 for a third time.
Just recently, he took to social media to express his concern over his treatment on the pitch.
He posted on Instagram : “For a while, I will once again have to stop doing the thing I most love in life, which is playing football.”
“I dribble and I get hit constantly. It makes me very sad. It makes me very sad to have to listen to a player, a coach, a commentator or whoever the hell it is say ‘they have to kick him’, ‘he dives’, ‘cry-baby’ ‘spoilt kid’, etc.”
“It saddens me and I don’t know how much longer I can take it. I just want to be happy playing football. NOTHING ELSE.”
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