Brazil captain Dani Alves admits Brazil would be stronger with talisman Neymar at the Copa America, but insists they are also not weaker without their injured star.
The tournament hosts held a news conference at their team hotel in Salvador ahead of their second round match against Venezuela on Sunday, with Paris Saint-Germain full-back Alves returning to his home state of Bahia, where he feels that fans are more supportive.
In their first game against Bolivia, most in the crowd of 46,342 at the Estadio do Morumbi in Sao Paulo jeered with the score goalless. Philippe Coutinho’s brace within eight minutes of the restart and Everton Soares’ late strike eventually gave Canarinho a comfortable win, with the men in yellow now taking on Venezuela in their second game as the look to secure a spot in the quarter-finals.
“I always make myself clear that, when you have an extra like Ney(mar), you are a little bit stronger,” said the veteran skipper ahead of the game.
“But when you don’t have him, that doesn’t mean that you are weaker. (With him), you increase your qualities, your power. But it doesn’t decrease if he’s not there. I believe that our responsibility remains the same here at the national team.”
