Neymar buoyant with Barca life after mixed debut season

Andy West 06:18 21/10/2014
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  • Hot shots: Neymar and Lionel Messi in training yesterday.

    Neymar has admitted he is now happier with life at Barcelona as the Catalan club prepare for tonight’s must-win Champions League meeting with Ajax.

    The Brazilian has scored eight league goals in just seven appear­ances so far this season, including a smartly-taken volley in Saturday’s 3-0 victory over Eibar at the Nou Camp. He also scored in Barca’s 3-2 defeat at Paris Saint-Germain in their last European outing, and has added five more for his country to take his overall season tally to an impressive 14.

    The early signs are that the 22 year-old will enjoy a far more pro­ductive campaign that his first sea­son in Spain, which was interrupted by injuries and eventually yielded just 15 goals at club level as Barca failed to win a major trophy for the first time since 2008.

    “I don’t know what’s changed, but I feel better now,” Neymar said. “I have adapted to the team more and now I feel more at home. I’m very happy at this club.”

    One notable aspect of Neymar’s form has been a much improved connection with Lionel Messi, who has provided a number of assists for his fellow South American star after a distinct lack of on-pitch understanding last year.

    Neymar added: “It’s incredible to play with him. I think he’s the best player I have ever seen.”

    Hype is already growing for Bar­ca’s weekend trip to Madrid, but the Catalan outfit are attempting to maintain focus on tonight’s meet­ing with Ajax following their loss at PSG, which has left the French club in control of Group F.

    Manager Luis Enrique, mean­while, has played down reports of a rift with Messi after the Argentine appeared to refuse to be substituted during the latter stages of Satur­day’s win over Eibar.

    Enrique eventually substituted Neymar following Messi’s rejec­tion of the offer to be replaced, and the Barca boss was pictured on the sidelines looking unhappy after Messi twice told the manager he would not come off.

    But Enrique said: “What hap­pened can be interpreted many ways, depending on who it serves.”

    Ajax have drawn both of their fixtures – against APOEL and PSG, and coach Frank de Boer said: “I want to see us having fun.

    “With these kind of games you have an opportunity to show what you can do.”

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