Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp has leaped to the defence of Brazil star Neymar over accusations of diving ahead of the Reds' UEFA Champions League clash with Paris Saint-Germain.
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The PSG star received a lot criticism at the 2018 World Cup for his reactions to tackles, with some players and pundits accusing the forward of diving.
Ahead of the UCL clash at Anfield tonight, however, Klopp defended Neymar by saying the player is just trying to protect himself. "When I saw a few games at the World Cup and it looked like he made a bit more of the situation, it was, for me, a completely normal reaction," Klopp was quoted as saying by The Guardian. "Players are really going for him and he wants to protect himself. I understand that. If a player gets a yellow card, then they are much closer to a red card. It's smart that he saves himself. "He's a fantastic footballer, an outstanding player. At the World Cup, he was not fit but nobody asked him, 'Can you not play?' He had to save himself a bit, that's all. "I don't think he's a person who wants to act, because if you are like that, you can't play the kind of football he plays. "He got rested at the weekend and will be 100% fresh for us. We will see the full package and we will have to cope with that."
Read: Zlatan Joins Messi Ronaldo In 500 Club Do you agree with Klopp's remarks about Neymar and diving? Have your say in the comments section below.
