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Neymar: Thomas Tuchel reveals why he did NOT risk PSG star before Liverpool clash
PARIS SAINT-GERMAIN boss Thomas Tuchel has explained why he omitted Neymar from his starting line-up before their Champions League clash with Liverpool.
PSG warmed up for their opening European game on Tuesday (8pm) away to Liverpool with a 4-0 thrashing of Saint Etienne on Friday night.
After returning from international duty with Brazil earlier this week, Neymar watched the victory over Saint Etienne in the stands with team-mate Kylian Mbappe who was suspended for the match.
Although Neymar took part in training with the rest of the PSG squad in the run-up to the Ligue 1 clash, Tuchel has explained he had cause for concern on Friday morning about Neymar’s fitness and decided to rest him.
“Neymar and I spoke on Thursday,” Tuchel said when explaining his decision to leave him out of his starting XI.
Neymar played 90 minutes on Wednesday with Brazil, so I did not want to take any risks
“I told him that he was not going to play and that he could not train. However, Neymar felt good and took part in the whole session.
“That night, he was unable to sleep.
“I asked Neymar at 10 GMT on Friday how he was, and his reply was 'I do not know.' When he told me that, it was an alarm in my head.
“Neymar played 90 minutes on Wednesday with Brazil, so I did not want to take any risks.
“Together, we decided that he would not play.”
Tuchel is expected to start Neymar and Mbappe for their opening Champions League group game.
Marco Verratti, however, will be unavilable for the clash.
Despite making his first appearance of the season against Saint-Etienne after recovering from a thigh problem, Verratti is suspended after being red carded in his side’s defeat to eventual winners Real Madrid in the last 16 last term.
Verratti, however, believes Liverpool will represent a big test for the French giants.
He said: “Before Liverpool it's good as we won all our games, but Liverpool will be different.
"They are a team who play very well at home.
“They have experience in the Champions League as they reached the final last season.
"It's an important test for us, not decisive but it's good to start with a complicated game."