Ahead of the round of 16 first-leg game against Bayern Munich in the Champions League, PSG’s Neymar, in a press conference on 13th February 2023, spoke about the dressing room bust-up with team-mate Marquinhos and sporting director Luis Campos following PSG’s last-16 exit in the Coupe de France with a 3-1 defeat against Monaco.
He said, “It had happened. We didn’t agree with what was being said at that time, so we had a discussion about it. I speak to my friends every day, and I love all of them. It is like that with my girlfriend as well. We talk about football, all of us. Football is about communicating. Of course, there is respect on both sides, and sometimes you don’t agree on things, but discussions sometimes are needed to improve the team, the atmosphere, and our play.”
“We have lost a few games and we are frustrated about that. But, we want to win all the time. It hurts when those defeats come around, so discussions are part of that. That can help us improve as a team. I think it has helped because we cleared things up. We know what we are all thinking.”
Neymar JR also spoke about the news associated with him in the media. He said “in terms of blocking things like that in the dressing-room, sometimes there are things that get into the press, and they can go viral very quickly. When there is information like that, we are angry.
“It is my sixth season here at PSG and it is difficult. Sometimes things have come out at important moments, like before a final. But I don’t know what was going on. As a player and a team-mate here, that doesn’t just affect me, it affects everyone and the coach. We have to work out what is happening. Things in the dressing room shouldn’t come out. That is sad. There are things that need to be resolved internally and not out on the street.
“You do that with your friends and family, and team-mates. You are with everyone from day to day. We have to stay together, so it’s annoying those things come out. I am sure there will be more in the future. That is all part of football.”
