Head coach Unai Emery is in no doubt Paris St Germain will get the best out of Neymar as the Brazilian sets his sights on living up to a world record transfer fee.
Neymar is ready to make his home debut when Toulouse visit the Parc des Princes on Sunday after international clearance on his £200.6million switch from Barcelona failed to come through in time to feature in the Ligue 1 opener against Amiens.
The 25-year-old, though, marked a first appearance in the PSG number 10 shirt last weekend with a late goal to cap a 3-0 win at Guingamp.
Emery is confident there remains plenty more to come from the Brazilian now he has stepped out from the shadow of Lionel Messi and Luis Suarez at the Nou Camp.
“Neymar is a young player who will grow here and help the club to make progress. His objective is to become the best player in the world and help the club to reach its objectives,” Emery told a pre-match press conference, in quotes published on the club’s official website, www.psg.fr.
“(Last week) Neymar was a real plus for the team, especially in the final 30 metres. Against Guingamp, his individual qualities were plain to see, but so were his collective qualities as he linked up well with all his team-mates.
“He is capable of many spectacular things, in attack as well as defence. Now we just need to work tactically to find the best possible balance.”
After missing out on the Ligue 1 title to Monaco and failing to progress past the 16 of the Champions League, losing out 6-5 in a remarkable tie against Barcelona, Emery has the team’s sights focused on delivering come 2018.
“We want to be better than last year. On Sunday, we have the chance to show that we have grown stronger,” he said.
“This season we will work on details and infuse the side with a winning mentality.
“The main objective is to win the league. The Champions League is also one of the club’s biggest priorities and we work hard every day to make sure the team can be competitive in every competition.”
Emery confirmed forward Lucas Moura was still nursing an ankle problem and so will not feature against Toulouse.
Polish midfielder Grzegorz Krychowiak and Italian Marco Verratti both continue treatment, while defenders Presnel Kimpembe and Thomas Meunier have been able to join in full training.
Toulouse lost their opening Ligue 1 fixture away to Monaco, but last weekend beat Montpellier 1-0 at the Stadium Municipal.
Despite all the focus being on their star attraction, Emery maintains PSG must not underestimate the threat posed by the visitors.
“Last year, Toulouse turned in two excellent performances against us, beating us (2-0) at home and holding out for a (goalless) draw at the Parc (0-0), so we need to be wary,” he said.
“Like every side that comes to play Paris, they will be very defence-minded, but they have some excellent players up front whom they can rely on.
“We are mainly aiming to stay on this strong dynamic and take all three points, but with the utmost respect for our opponents.”
Toulouse coach Pascal Dupraz this week brought in Bournemouth’s former St Etienne winger Max Gradel on a season-long loan, and is determined his squad will not get carried away in the hype of PSG’s record-breaking transfer deal.
“We must be careful not to call this the meeting between Toulouse and (just) Neymar,” Dupraz said on quotes published on the club’s official website.
“Paris are going to be the champions of France, I think, and once again at the front of the European stage, but we will be the opponents against all of this and I believe in the possibility of getting a result.”
ends