Dortmund: The return of Neymar from a rib injury in time for Tuesday’s Champions League last 16 clash at Borussia Dortmund “changes almost everything… and brings a lot of confidence” to his Paris Saint-Germain team-mates, coach Thomas Tuchel said.
Tuchel named the Brazilian superstar in his squad for their last-16 first leg tie in Germany despite the world’s most expensive player missing the French club’s last four games through injury.
He has been struggling with a rib problem, but should be fit to play at Signal Iduna Park.
“He’s fine, he’s going to train, and will play if nothing happens to him,” said Tuchel in Monday’s press conference.
“He has the quality, the confidence and the ability to do decisive things. His presence changes everything – it gives me and his team-mates a lot of confidence.
“If he’s missing, he’s missing – but we don’t have another player of that quality.”Neymar missed last season’s surprise last-16 loss to Manchester United with a foot injury, while he also sat out the second leg of the defeat at the same stage of the competition by Real Madrid in 2018.
He was rested, along with France forward Kylian Mbappe, for Saturday’s remarkable 4-4 draw at Amiens in Ligue 1.
PSG are yet to reach the Champions League semi-finals since being bought by their Qatari owners nine years ago, with their run to the last four in 1994-95 still the closest they have come to lifting the European Cup.
