Strasbourg’s Anthony Goncalves defended his side’s treatment of Neymar, saying the Paris Saint-Germain forward must “not come and cry” after suffering a foot injury in their Coupe de France tie.
PSG face an anxious wait to learn the extent of Neymar’s problem, with the Brazil international having been sent to hospital after coming off in the second half of his team’s 2-0 win.
Neymar appeared to sustain the injury in a challenge from Moataz Zemzemi, when the Strasbourg midfielder tried to tackle the PSG star on three occasions before referee Johan Hamel awarded a free-kick.
Neymar, who was unhappy with Zemzemi after the incident, then flicked the ball over his opponent’s head from the resultant free-kick before eventually succumbing to the injury and hobbling off.
The Brazilian had to be consoled after coming off and PSG head coach Thomas Tuchel admitted he was “worried” Neymar had suffered a similar injury to the fractured metatarsal and sprained ankle that ended his domestic season last February.
However, Goncalves was unapologetic when speaking following the match.
“When we are competitors, even if we play PSG, we always want to win, we are disappointed, but I want to remember the state of mind,” he told Eurosport.
“We did not come in as victims, we showed a good face and showed beautiful things.
“Neymar? That’s his style, he’s a great player but we’re not there to have fun with him, we respond with our weapons and we have colours to defend.
“We’re not here to joke. So he must not come and cry after.”
SOURCE:SPORTINGNEWS.COM