Mbappe and Neymar 'laughed' in training after row, says Pochettino
Kylian Mbappe and Neymar have been ‘laughing’ in training after clear-the-air talks following row over Brazilian not passing, claims Mauricio Pochettino ahead of crunch clash with Man City
- Kylian Mbappe was left furious with Neymar in a weekend win over Montpellier
- Mbappe accused his team-mate of not passing to him as he did for other players
- Mauricio Pochettino said the ‘minor’ issue was addressed in Monday’s training
Kylian Mbappe and Neymar laughed off any talk of a rift ahead of the visit of Manchester City, reveals boss Mauricio Pochettino.
The Paris Saint-Germain pair found themselves in the spotlight at the weekend following a 2-0 win over Montpellier.
Mbappe, who had been substituted, was captured on Canal+ cameras telling Idrissa Gueye that Neymar ‘doesn’t pass’ to him like he does with others, after the Brazilian teed up Julian Draxler for the second goal.
Kylian Mbappe (left) had a clear-the-air chat with Neymar (right) during training on Monday
Mbappe (right) was left frustrated after seeing Neymar’s pass lead to Julian Draxler’s goal
There was frustration on the pitch but Mauricio Pochettino says they are ‘laughing’ about it
French media outlets spoke of a strained relationship between the pair but Pochettino has since revealed that the attackers had a conversation in training to put the ‘minor’ problem to bed.
‘They are fantastic guys,’ Pochettino said. ‘These things happen. There are always things between top players, they are competitors who want to win and help the team.
‘These things happen and I have spoken to them today individually and they have also spoken to each other. In training, they were laughing.
‘Their target is to win and help the team achieve so if there is a small incident sometimes that can create a big wave that is actually all talk outside the squad. In reality it is a minor problem. It is really nothing.’
Spirits were high during training on Monday and the Mbappe rant is said to be a ‘minor’ issue
Pochettino echoed that the two attackers hold a ‘special connection’ and there is no problem
Pochettino was echoing the words of Ander Herrera, who said that his two team-mates have a ‘very special connection’ and that remains unchanged in light of Mbappe’s rant.
Herrera said: ‘Neymar and Kylian, I realised from day one that they have a very special connection. And nothing has changed so far.
‘Every game we tease, but in the end, we like each other. We’re a good group.’
There were plenty of smiles during training on Monday with Lionel Messi pushing to start alongside Mbappe and Neymar after recovering from a knee injury.
Messi has missed PSG’s last two matches but ‘is in the squad’ to face Manchester City in their second Champions League group game, confirmed Pochettino.
Lionel Messi was also smiling and laughing as he returned to training as he pushes to start
Messi (middle) will be in the squad but Pochettino has not decided his starting XI vs Man City
‘I don’t know who’s going to start yet,’ Pochettino continued.
Speaking on the cohesion of his three star attackers, the former Tottenham boss pleaded for some patience.
‘It takes time to work and evolve in different conditions,’ he said. ‘That they get to know each other so that they can play well together. Everyone is under pressure. The most important thing is that we are happy with the team.
‘We need a little time. The players need to feel free to evolve properly.’
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