Mauricio Pochettino lavishes praise on ‘humble’ Neymar and says PSG superstar needs to ‘dance’ and enjoy football

Mauricio Pochettino has heaped praise on PSG forward Neymar, describing the Brazilian superstar as a 'humble' and 'great' player. Pochettino, who is now in charge of Chelsea, insists Neymar needs to 'dance' and enjoy his football more, while admitting that the 31-year-old is one of the best players in the world. The pair worked together at PSG, with Pochettino managing Neymar between 2021 and 2022. During his time in Paris, Neymar enjoyed a successful spell, scoring 17 goals in 32 Ligue 1 appearances and setting up 11 more. 'He's a great player. One of the best in the world. A humble guy,' Pochettino told ESPN. 'He needs to dance, to enjoy the game, to be happy. He needs to express himself freely. He needs to be himself.' 'He has a lot of talent. He's a very talented player. Maybe sometimes when you're at that level, you need to enjoy your game more.' Pochettino has revealed how he would try to get the best out of Neymar, encouraging him to embrace his natural ability. 'I think we always tried to give him that freedom. The freedom that he needs to show his talent. And it is difficult to find that balance between giving freedom and then also asking something from him.' 'He is a fantastic player. A really great guy. He is an incredible personality. He has a lot of personality,' Pochettino said of Neymar. 'Maybe it is sometimes difficult for him to control this personality. But he is a good guy. And a great footballer.' Pochettino is expected to rebuild Chelsea this summer following a disappointing season for the Blues, and the Argentinian is hoping to make significant additions to his squad. It is unlikely that Pochettino will be able to bring Neymar to Stamford Bridge, as the forward is still a key player for PSG. However, the Argentine's comments suggest that he is a big admirer of the Brazilian and believes he still has a lot to offer.

Summary

"Mauricio Pochettino has praised Neymar's humility and talent, urging him to enjoy his football more. Pochettino believes that Neymar is one of the best players in the world and that he needs to embrace his natural ability. While Pochettino is unlikely to bring Neymar to Chelsea, he remains a fan of the Brazilian star."