Neymar

Neymar thinks 'change of attitude' saved PSG's Champions League dream

The Brazilian was in fine form for the Ligue 1 champions, scoring two against Manchester United at Old Trafford

 
9:48am on Thursday 3rd December 2020
By
Martin Macdonald

Neymar believes that a "change of attitude" was required from Paris Saint-Germain in order for them to save their season in the Champions League.

The Ligue 1 champions reached the final of the competition in 2019/20, eventually losing to Bayern.

This season, however, has been a struggle so far as prior to the win against Manchester United at Old Trafford on Wednesday, they had won two games and lost two. If they had lost against the Red Devils, it would have represented a major blow in their qualification hopes.

They would have had to rely on the other result in the final match of Group H to qualify.

Now, PSG, Man Utd, and RB Leipzig are all on nine points, with PSG arguably in the driving seat as they face group minnows Basaksehir in the final fixture next week.

PSG's first game of the campaign in Europe saw them defeated at home by Man Utd, while in the early stages of their domestic season they struggled, too.

Neymar insists a change of attitude and a desire to not play in the Europa League motivated he and his team-mates on to victory in the return game against United.

"That is why I said that we needed to change attitude or else we could forget about our Champions League dream," the Brazilian told Eleven Sports.

"But we have changed. And today our dream has more life in it. Of course, I have never been eliminated in the Champions League [group stage] or played in the Europa League.

"That never crossed my mind and it never well. When these difficult moments come, I am able to evolve and take my responsibilities. I did not come here to play in the Europa League."

In the same interview, Neymar sent shockwaves around European football by suggesting that he wants to play with Barcelona star Lionel Messi again next season.

Whether that is it at Barcelona, PSG, or somewhere else, is unclear at this point.

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