Neymar praises Brazil’s interim World Cup qualifying coach Diniz
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Brazil forward Neymar (right) celebrates with his coach Fernando Diniz after scoring a goal.
PHOTO: AFP
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CUIABA, Brazil – Neymar has hailed Brazil coach Fernando Diniz as one of the best managers in world football, ahead of the team’s 2026 World Cup qualifiers against Venezuela and Uruguay.
Diniz, who was appointed the Selecao’s boss in July, has already made a positive impact, having led the five-time world champions to victories in their first two qualifiers against Bolivia and Peru.
“Diniz is a great coach, one of the best we have in world football, in my opinion,” Neymar said on Tuesday.
“The freedom he gives us, not only to me, but to all the players, and the trust that he instils is the most important thing.”
The 49-year-old tactician, who is feted in Brazil for his attacking brand of football, is concurrently managing Fluminense.
He has guided the Rio de Janeiro club to the final of the Copa Libertadores, South America’s top club competition, against Boca Juniors.
He took temporary charge of Brazil when Tite left following their quarter-final exit at the 2022 World Cup.
However, Diniz still hopes to make his mark with the Selecao and keep them top of the South American qualifying competition.
He is also looking forward to seeing Neymar and Vinicius Jr playing together against Venezuela, as he works towards building a sense of unity in the side.
“(Neymar and Vinicius) are extremely good players, very intelligent, skilful and they like each other, there is also Rodrygo, a player of a very high level,” Diniz said.
“We hope they get on well in tomorrow’s game, as they have done in training, and that they can have a great game.”
Vinicius, who usually plays in the same position as Neymar, returns to the squad after missing the first two qualifiers through injury.
“My first interaction with Vinicius was excellent, today he is one of the greatest players in world football,” said Diniz.
“Let’s hope he is comfortable to play.”
Finding balance and building unity is Diniz’s main objective in order to have a “competitive team”.
“I feel a positive camaraderie from the players, who like each other very much, forming that feeling of family,” he said.
“The older ones know how to welcome very well those who arrive, both my committee and the players.”
Meanwhile, Gabriel Jesus said he is ready to play anywhere in Brazil’s attack.
The Arsenal forward has mostly been deployed centrally by club manager Mikel Arteta following his July 2022 move from Manchester City.
But the 26-year-old revealed that Diniz would want to deploy him in a wider role – which he relished as a teenager at Palmeiras – in a bid to better utilise his pace and crossing ability.
“At Palmeiras, I played a lot out wide with the freedom to cut inside,” Jesus said. “Then I started playing more centrally. The first thing Diniz said to me was that he wanted to see Gabriel from Palmeiras and from City.”
But Jesus, who has scored 19 goals in 61 matches for Brazil, added that he would prefer not to talk about his favourite position “because my main goal is to help in whichever position the coach gives me”.
While world No. 3 Brazil are 50 rungs above Venezuela, Casemiro has cautioned his teammates against complacency. He singled out midfielder Yangel Herrera, playmaker Yeferson Soteldo and striker Salomon Rondon as players the Selecao must watch carefully.
The environment also poses another challenge. The clash on Friday morning (Singapore time) will mark Brazil’s first game at the Arena Pantanal in Cuiaba, a stadium built for the 2014 World Cup.
The central-western Brazil city is regarded as one of the hottest places in South America, with temperatures often surpassing 40 deg C at this time of the year.
Neymar, who joined Al Hilal from Paris Saint-Germain in August, said: “I admit that it is quite warm, but in a way I am used to it because in Saudi Arabia it is also very hot. Everyone suffers in the heat but the game is going to be at night, so hopefully it won’t be so intense.”
After hosting Venezuela, Brazil will travel to Montevideo to face Uruguay next Tuesday.
XINHUA, REUTERS
