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Daily Mirror
Daily Mirror
Sport
Alex Milne

Neymar aims dig at PSG over lack of playing time following Dortmund defeat

PSG forward Neymar said it was not his decision to sit out of his side's recent matches and appeared to question why he has not been involved in the starting line-up recently.

The Brazilian scored a crucial away goal for his side in the 2-1 defeat against Dortmund on Tuesday, in which 19-year-old wonderkid Erling Haaland scored twice for the home team.

Neymar had not played in PSG's four previous games ahead of the Dortmund clash, but was restored to the starting 11 for the match at the Westfalenstadion.

And speaking following the game he seemed less than pleased that he had not been involved in recent weeks.

Neymar scored PSG's equaliser but couldn't prevent a 2-1 loss to Dortmund (AFP via Getty Images)

"It was not my choice not to play the last matches," he said. "I wanted to play, I felt good. The club was afraid and it is I who suffer from it."

PSG are under huge pressure to make it through in the Champions League after failing to progress past the last-16 for the last three seasons in a row.

Some criticised manager Thomas Tuchel's tactics following the game against Dortmund, and there are rumours he could face the sack if they do not go through, but the German said: "We have no regrets. I have to make decisions before the game and I take responsibility.

"Nobody can say what would have happened with a different system. This system gave us the structure to attack and control the match, high up the pitch.

PSG face a difficult task to qualify for the quarter finals (FRIEDEMANN VOGEL/EPA-EFE/REX)

"I know that if the result isn’t perfect, it’s easy to say it was a mistake. Other teams have lost here as well. It can happen. For me, it’s not a question of structure but how we played."

The second leg of the tie will be played at Parc des Princes on March 11, but before that PSG have three Ligue 1 games and a French Cup semi-final against Lyon to contend with.

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