Paris Saint-Germain star Neymar has said he has no plans to celebrate in front of Bayern Munich’s Joshua Kimmich after PSG advanced to away goals and Champions League semi-finals.
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The draw, which ended 3-3 globally, was a rematch of last season’s Champions League final, which Bayern won 1-0. Before Tuesday’s match, Bayern Kimmich and Thomas Muller said they were confident the German champions would move to the Parc des Princes.
But it was PSG who advanced, Neymar celebrating with teammate Leandro Paredes in front of an annoyed Kimmich, while the referee whistled full time.
“It’s funny because I didn’t even celebrate to mess with him, he was more with Leo and I ended up celebrating with him. Fate put me almost [Kimmich]”Neymar said TNT Sports Brazil after the match. “He said their team is better, that they will win. He was sure they would go to the semifinals.”
Bayern won 1-0, despite suffering at the break throughout the match, Neymar hitting the wood twice, but it was not enough for them to progress.
However, this did not stop Bayern coach Hansi Flick from saying that his team deserves to move on.
“Over both games I think we were the best team,” said Flick, who had to cope without injured striker Robert Lewandowski for both games. “We had some luck back, we were missing a few players, but we have to accept it.”
Responding to Flick, PSG coach Mauricio Pochettino said that the comments of the German players before the game were correct.
“It’s normal that they trusted, they’re a team that won everything and they thought they were the favorites,” Pochettino said.
“Football is such a beautiful game, but it is also a game you never give up and you have to fight. But I understand why they said they are confident, it is normal to play mental games,” he added.
Neymar praised his teammates, but stopped saying that PSG are the favorites now. They will face either Manchester City or Borussia Dortmund in the semi-finals.
“The message we had to send was given last season, when we reached the final, we played a great game against Bayern, which was the best team last year. This year we didn’t see it that way,” he said. Neymar. “During the draw, I told my teammates that we would face Bayern and it happened.
“I told them to be calm, that we are ready. We have to show this to ourselves, that we can do it. It was a great game, even if we were beaten, we played better.”
The club and Neymar were also in the middle of a contractual negotiation, but the former Barcelona man said that he wants to stay in Paris.
“I don’t think this is even a topic, obviously I feel very comfortable at home at PSG,” said Neymar. “I feel happier than before.”
The Associated Press and Reuters contributed to his report.