Arrival of young players is going to be good for Neymar on and off the pitch: Brazil manager Tite

Brazil manager Tite is elated with the performance of young players in Europe’s last season and will be available for national duties in November, when his side gear up for a record-extending 6th FIFA World Cup.

The 2022 FIFA World Cup will take place from November 21 to December 18 in Qatar.

The new generation of Brazil players include Vinicius Jr and Rodrygo (Real Madrid), Raphinha (Barcelona), Richarlison (Tottenham Hotspur), Bruno Guimaraes (Newcastle United), Antony (Ajax), Matheus Cunha (Atletico Madrid) among others. With all these players either 25 or under, Tite believes it will ease the pressure on the 30-year-old Neymar.

“I do have this feeling that the arrival of these young players is going to be good for Neymar on and off the pitch,” Tite told Reuters.

“The other day Neymar looked at me and said: ‘Coach, these kids that are coming, it’s just nuts … what a good headache to have trying to put them all on the field.’ He laughed.

“When you have other players with great technical potential you share the load and the attention of our rivals that now will have to chose where they focus their defensive assignments.”

Tite further said that he is likely to use Neymar in a more central role, that will allow him to bring in Brazil’s young players up front. With squads allowed to have 26 players and 5 substitutes at the World Cup, the coach wants to have fresh legs in the side.

“Neymar has developed into a more creative role, a point guard, a builder and a finisher, but a litter further back. Bow and arrow, creator and finisher. Soccer is fast and relentless nowadays and we’ll face many rivals that will close deep with a five-man defensive front.

“Neymar was often double-teamed. Now if you do that you will open up space for other players that can be as decisive and important to our team. We are in a good place right now.”

Brazil were knocked out of the 2018 World Cup by Belgium in a 1-2 loss in the quarter-finals. Tite will become the first manager to coach Brazil in two consecutive global events since Tele Santana in 1982 and 1986.

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