Managers defend Neymar

9/21/2016 1:36:03 AM

(MENAFN- Khaleej Times) Barcelona coach Luis Enrique and Atletico Madrid manager Diego Simeone have launched impassioned defences of Neymar after the Brazilian's showboating again came under the spotlight.
Former Barcelona great Michael Laudrup lambasted the Brazil international for "provoking" the opposition in Saturday's 5-1 win at Leganes and Neymar's flamboyant style will be scrutinised again on Wednesday when Barcelona host Atletico.
Commentating on Saturday's game at Leganes for BeIN sports, Laudrup said he understood why Lluis Sastre kicked out at Neymar during the game.
"Why are you taking the ball across your own half? You're provoking the opposition. When it's 4-0 you can't be showboating and provoking your opponents," Laudrup said. Neymar's penchant for trying to embarrass opponents with flicks and tricks has prompted criticism in Spain before, with Luis Enrique once declaring he sympathised with Athletic Bilbao players for fouling Neymar in the 2015 King's Cup final.
The coach, however, took his player's side when questioned about Laudrup's comments.
"He has his own style and I think it's spectacular for football. We enjoy his play a lot at Barca," Luis Enrique told a news conference on Tuesday.
"We know what world we live in and what people focus on, but I like his concept of football, and no-one in La Liga can be surprised by it now.
"Perhaps it's better to criticise things that are against the rules, as there is nothing saying you cannot do spectacular tricks."

Share More > Vote

var UNIQUE_ARTICLE_ID = "9D648ED9-83C7-4C5B-A918-BB92BF69CACC"; var SECTION_TAGS = "tag1, tag2, tag3"; var ARTICLE_TITLE = "Managers%20defend%20Neymar%0D%0A"; var GA_CODE = "UA-819330-1"; var VUUKLE_API_KEY = "841fb3e5-977f-4e2e-be39-fae608323cc5"; var TRANSLITERATE_LANGUAGE_CODE = "en"; var VUUKLE_COL_CODE = "646464"; var VUUKLE_STORIES_TIME = 0; var ARTICLE_AUTHORS = btoa(encodeURI( '[{"name": "name one", "email":"","type": "internal"}, {"name":"name two", "email":"","type": "external"}]')); create_vuukle_platform(VUUKLE_API_KEY, UNIQUE_ARTICLE_ID, "0", SECTION_TAGS, ARTICLE_TITLE, TRANSLITERATE_LANGUAGE_CODE , "1", "", GA_CODE, VUUKLE_COL_CODE, ARTICLE_AUTHORS); function ArticleVote_GetCookie(c_name) { if (document.cookie.length>0) { c_start=document.cookie.indexOf(c_name + "="); if (c_start!=-1) { c_start=c_start + c_name.length+1; c_end=document.cookie.indexOf(";",c_start); if (c_end==-1) c_end=document.cookie.length; return unescape(document.cookie.substring(c_start,c_end)); } } return ""; } function ArticleVote() { $.ajax( { type: "POST", url: '/misc/misc/ArticleVote.pbs&guid=9D648ED9-83C7-4C5B-A918-BB92BF69CACC&write=1&d=' + (new Date()).getTime(), success: function(data) { var LData = data || "no response text"; if(LData.indexOf("voted") != -1) { $('#NCS-ArticleVoteLoad').html(LData); ArticleVoteLoad(1); } else alert("You have already voted on this article"); }, error: function(){ console.log('Something went wrong...') } }); } function ArticleVoteLoad(ALoad) { var GVotecookie = ArticleVote_GetCookie('NCSD_ARTICLEVOTE'); var GArticleVoted = 0; GArticleVoted = GVotecookie.replace(/.*?9D648ED9-83C7-4C5B-A918-BB92BF69CACC.*?$/, "1"); if (GArticleVoted == 1) { $('.DivArticleVote').html('VOTED'); $('.DivArticleVote').css("background-color","#db2425"); $('.LiArticleVote').attr('onclick','').unbind('click'); } if(ALoad == 1) $('.SpanArticleVote').load("/misc/misc/ArticleVote.pbs&nocache=1&guid=9D648ED9-83C7-4C5B-A918-BB92BF69CACC"); else $('.SpanArticleVote').load("/misc/misc/ArticleVote.pbs&guid=9D648ED9-83C7-4C5B-A918-BB92BF69CACC"); } ArticleVoteLoad(0); MORE FROM Sports

Football Managers defend Neymar

Luis Enrique and Diego Simeone have launched impassioned defences of... READ MORE

Tennis Nadal tells WADA to make medical reports public

Nadal and four-time Olympic champion distance runner Farah were shown ... READ MORE

Football Spotlight on concussion after head injury

Lying flat on the Vicarage Road pitch, it seemed Anthony Martial's... READ MORE

Local sports 18 teams, 555km, one aim - Abu Dhabi Tour glory

The event will be spread over four routes alternating between desert... READ MORE