Ancelotti explodes. Neymar is unhappy, and what happened against Japan is a message to Norway.

Brazil coach Carlo Ancelotti has revealed star player Neymar’s stance on the bench, praising the footballer’s professionalism despite his disappointment at not being in the starting line-up.

In an interview with the newspaperFolha de São PauloBrazil’s Ancelotti has explained that his aim since taking over has been to lead the Seleção to the World Cup as far as possible, stressing that he has so far managed to achieve an ideal starting line-up that does not guarantee Neymar a fixed position.

The Italian coach said. “Neymar is not happy that he is not playing, and that is normal, but he is behaving very well… He trains excellently, shows great respect and is kind and loved by all his team-mates.”

He continued. “Neymar is an important figure in the team because of his exceptional talent and great humility. I’m very happy with him and it’s clear he wants to play like he always does.

Ancelotti noted that Neymar did not participate in the last match against Japan and did not rule out that he will play in extra time, confirming the football player’s full physical fitness.

“Neymar can play 90 minutes without any problem. He is taking it easy and working hard every day to regain his place. The technical staff is very pleased with his commitment.”

Warning message for Norway

In a related context, Ancelotti sent a warning message ahead of the qualifiers against Norway, saying the draw with Japan showed Brazil’s fighting mentality.

“For me, the match is never over… When Martinelli scored against Japan, there were minutes left and I didn’t celebrate because I went through similar situations where I thought the game was decided and then everything changed.”

He continued. “At this stage of the tournament, every match is difficult, the elimination stages are not only determined by technical and tactical aspects, but mental factors also play a big role.”

He concluded his speech about the next competitor by saying: “Norway is a strong team and includes outstanding players, while Holland is one of the best players in the world. It will be a difficult match, but we are confident that we can put on a great performance.”