Monday 23 September 2013

Cruyff: Messi - Neymar partnership will not work for Barcelona.



Cruyff: Messi-Neymar partnership will not work for Barcelona




The Blaugrana legend believes the Brazilian does not have the required work-rate boasted by fellow wingers Pedro and Cristian Tello

Johan Cruyff expects Neymar to continue to struggle alongside Lionel Messi in the Barcelona starting XI.

The Brazil star extended his scoreless run in La Liga to five games in the 4-0 win over Rayo Vallecano, and Cruyff - who had previously suggested Messi should be sold to accommodate Neymar - believes the 21-year-old's poor work-rate leaves the team too unbalanced when the Argentine is also playing.

"I never said that Neymar was a bad player. The question is how he [Neymar] fits into the team," the 66-year-old told Globoesporte.

"Neymar and Messi are two attacking players, but that means there’ll be one less player doing the defensive work. That could be a problem.

"Barcelona have a style of play in which the players on the wing have to work hard; however, Neymar isn’t a work-horse like Pedro or [Cristian] Tello."

Neymar's headed goal against Atletico Madrid in the Supercopa de Espana remains his only competitive strike for Barcelona since his €57 million move this summer.              

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