Brazil coach Tite says Neymar is in the 'recovery stage' after injury
Tuesday 26 June 2018 22:27, UK
Brazil coach Tite says Neymar cannot be expected to carry all their World Cup hopes so soon after returning from injury.
Brazil face Serbia in Moscow on Wednesday, still needing a point to guarantee a place in the last 16.
The Brazilians have been somewhat lacklustre so far, drawing 1-1 draw with Switzerland before a 2-0 win over Costa Rica in which they needed a pair of injury-time goals.
Paris Saint-Germain forward Neymar - the world's most expensive player - has only just returned after he was sidelined by a fractured foot, but has not escaped criticism for his performances.
He wept on the pitch after scoring the second in the defeat of Costa Rica, and Tite says there may be too much pressure on his key man.
"Neymar is only in the recovery stage," said Tite. "He is a gifted player but outside his normal standards, or he wouldn't be playing like this.
"This is an evolution. If you look at the heat map of his last two games, it has increased considerably. Maybe he will be at the top of his game in the next match.
"We shouldn't place the whole responsibility on his shoulders."
Tite compared Neymar's tears to his own weeping for joy after Brazil beat Ecuador last August to qualify for the World Cup.
"I want to say to the whole Brazilian nation - I cried on the phone to my wife after we beat Ecuador, just because I was happy," said the Brazil coach.
"I am very careful about associating reasons with emotions. There are moments, of course, when you have to have a cool head and to keep a standard.
"We are aware of the emotions and the pressure. We have to be able to assess heart, head and reasoning.
"But emotion isn't always in sync with imbalance, not at all."
