Neymar signing has brought ‘welcome pressure’: PSG boss

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Paris Saint-Germain boss Unai Emery admits that signing Neymar for £198m has piled extra pressure on him as manager.

But Emery claims “this pressure is welcome” as he bids to bounce back from a disappointing first season in the French capital.

PSG have signed three first-team players this summer — also adding full backs Yuri Berchiche and Dani Alves from Real Sociedad and Juventus respectively — but all the focus will be on Neymar, who is earning £500 000 a week at the Parc des Princes.

“He’s a player who will help the club to get a level higher,’ Emery said. ‘Without Neymar PSG is a great club but with Neymar it’s a little better. A little greater. The other players here are also some great players so together we can get better. It’s true that the enthusiasm from the fans is even bigger.

“This pressure is welcome, like all positive things. Neymar is there to give the team a little more. Neymar is better for us.”

Emery and Neymar will both be under the spotlight this season.

But perhaps more so Emery, who must do much better than last season if he is to keep his job.

Former Sevilla boss Emery led PSG to 42 victories in 57 games across all competitions last term — giving him a decent win percentage of 74 per cent.

However, his side were pipped in Ligue 1 by Monaco, who ended PSG’s run of four consecutive titles, while Emery also oversaw the biggest capitulation in Champions League history as the Parisians blew a 4-0 lead against Barcelona.

Neymar scored two of Barcelona’s late goals as PSG lost the second-leg of their last-16 tie 6-1 in the Nou Camp, which may well have helped persuade the French giants to stump up a world-record fee this summer. — DailyMail

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