Tite defends Neymar’s captaincy credentials

Brazil coach Tite has defended the leadership credentials of Neymar Junior. The Barcelona man resigned the captaincy of the Seleção just hours after he led the U-23 side to Olympic gold on home soil. Dunga made Neymar captain back in September 2014, a decision which was criticised widely with the player already carrying a large […]
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sambafoot_admin
2016-08-23 21:19:00

Brazil coach Tite has defended the leadership credentials of Neymar Junior. The Barcelona man resigned the captaincy of the Seleção just hours after he led the U-23 side to Olympic gold on home soil.

Dunga made Neymar captain back in September 2014, a decision which was criticised widely with the player already carrying a large burden of expectation as a player for his country. But new boss Tite rushed to defend the captaincy skills of Neymar.

"He said, ‘I don"t want to be the captain" and I said to him, ‘Enjoy it with your family, go and celebrate this victory because that is something we can look at later.’ Why? Because being a leader has a series of aspects: It has a technical aspect, a technical leadership, and he is a technical leader.

"There is then another aspect where you can communicate your ideas with the public. They [leaders] must lead by example. In short, he has these qualities, but others can be it [the captain] too since these are the diverse aspects that are needed to be the leader."

During the press conference to announce his first Brazil squad, Tite refused to be drawn on how Neymar would be deployed tactically, having played both on the left and through the centre during his international career.

"On the left – where he is positioned for Barcelona – is where he has a more established routine," he said. "But he can also be used centrally if necessary within the game. I have not decided on one or another situation. [I prefer] observing and letting the player play where he feels more comfortable because there he can produce more – and this is also my goal."