Olympic champion, Londrina coach criticizes Ancelotti and compares Neymar with Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo

Neymar was injured during Santos’ 3-0 defeat to Coritiba on May 17 and played just two matches during the World Cup. The number 10 spent 14 minutes on the field in the 3-0 victory over Scotland, in the last round of the group stage, and played another 23 minutes in the 2-1 elimination against Norway, in the round of 16. He scored the goal from the penalty spot, but it did not prevent the Brazilian defeat.

“Neymar for me is the best Brazilian player. Neymar should have played. Who am I to talk about Ancelotti, but Neymar had to be better used, just like Messi is, like Cristiano Ronaldo is, like Salah. I had the opportunity to manage Egypt and there is a lot of work for Salah to do”stated Micale.

“Neymar should have been used too. The biggest controversy was the issue of being 100% physically. The star, the guy who makes the difference, I think he has something different to contribute, a weight of being who he is, including for the other players. I would never give up on Neymar”, he added.

Micale also defended Neymar’s participation in the 2030 World Cup cycle. “I want to see Neymar on the field. I pay for a ticket to see Neymar. There are many games in Brazil that I wouldn’t even go to if I received an invitation. If Neymar is participating, with the minimum conditions, I’ll go to the stadium to see him play football. Neymar is indisputable”, he said.

However, the number 10 himself has already indicated that the defeat to Norway was his match wearing the Brazilian team’s shirt. He has been on vacation since being eliminated from the World Cup and has a meeting later this week with Santos to discuss his future. According to the website Fish DiaryNeymar told close friends that he wants to fulfill his contract until the end of the season, but wants to understand the financial situation of the Santos club.

Rogério Micale is having a good time at Londrina in Series B

Hired at the beginning of May, Rogério Micale is on a run of five games without losing in Series B, with three wins and two draws, and has lifted Londrina out of the relegation zone.

In the last round, they drew 1-1 away from home with bottom side América-MG, at Arena Independência, in Belo Horizonte. “It’s not the result of our dreams, but it’s a point away from home. For us, it’s important to add more and more”, highlighted Micale.

Tubarão is in 16th place, with 19 points, a campaign of five wins, four draws and eight defeats, but has only one more than Ceará, which opens the group that today would be relegated to Series C. In the next round, Albiceleste has a direct confrontation with Botafogo-SP, who has only one point more, on Friday (17), at 9pm, on VGD.