Paradise for conspiracy theorists.
Now we need Neymar PSG more than ever. The team was in crisis, they suffered three defeats in a row, including the first match of the round of 16 of the Champions League with Bayern. But in the French championship match with Lille, Neymar was hit by Benjamin Andre and left the field on a stretcher. The Brazilian was injured, which cast doubt on his participation in the second leg with Bayern. Yes, injuries and losses happen. But if you think about it, Neymar just has some kind of curse associated with February and March. Let’s look at the last few years.
March 2015: harmless disqualification
It was a successful year for Barcelona where Neymar was playing at the time. The Brazilian claimed the title of best footballer on Earth alongside Ronaldo and Messi. He finished a superb season with a goal against Juventus in the Champions League final, and his association with Messi and Suarez inspired fear in all opponents.
Back then, few could have guessed that Neymar was laying the foundation for a completely different reputation. He picked up yellow cards and missed the match against Rayo Vallecano on 8 March. The Barcelona management at this moment let him go home so that he could celebrate his sister Rafaella Santos’ birthday on March 11th. And then the rumors started.
March 2016: disqualified again
The fifth yellow card of the 2015/16 season fell again in the same period. Neymar deserved a ban for the March 6 match against Eibar. Instead, he went back to Brazil to celebrate his sister’s birthday. And then it wasn’t just rumors. Fans openly accused the striker of deliberately getting an “extra” card to take such a vacation.
March 2017: now injury
That March was best remembered for the confrontation between Barcelona and PSG. The Catalans lost to the Parisians with a score of 0:4, but in the second leg they won 6:1 and moved on to the Champions League. Neymar didn’t draw his cards this time, but missed the next La Liga match against Deportivo due to mysterious health problems.
One might think that his contribution to the victory is over PSG it will be a kind of excuse for the fans, but now they suspected that the Brazilian was “shining away”, as the striker went to Brazil again, where he was supposed to recover from an injury. Meanwhile, without Neymar, Barcelona lost in the Champions League to Juventus (0:3) and was relegated.
February 2018: turning point
After moving to France for 222 million euros, Neymar really lit up in Ligue 1. It seemed that now PSG fulfill his dream and win the Champions League. But already at the stage of the round of 16, the Parisians faced Real Madrid, and Neymar had new problems. In the first match against Madrid PSG lost and the superstar was injured.
Examination revealed a fractured metatarsal bone and a dislocated ankle. He’s been out for a few weeks. Without Neymar PSG he lost the return match. And Neymar’s difficulties with February-March transferred from Barcelona to Paris.
January 2019: holiday on crutches
Again in the round of 16 of the Champions League PSG entered without Neymar. This time the Brazilian got injured a little earlier than usual. But that didn’t stop him from throwing a bright party in honor of his birthday. Everyone remembers his performance in a crimson jacket on crutches. At first it seemed that this joke was forgivable, because even without the Brazilian PSG away they beat Manchester United (2:0). But in the return leg in Paris Manchester United won with a score of 3:1, and the Parisians were again eliminated from the tournament. Now Neymar has been reminded of his amusement of him, noting that he could have participated in saving his team’s position if he hadn’t lost this segment of the season again.
February 2020: Rib problems
In 2020, Neymar really wanted to celebrate his birthday and the busy Ligue 1 schedule prevented that from happening. It was this that explained the behavior of the Brazilian, who no longer trusted him, the fans. In the match against Montpellier, the striker received a yellow card at the end of the first half and struggled to earn a second yellow card. He threw himself at the opponents’ feet and was clearly set up aggressively, but the referee found no reason to remove him.
However, Neymar was still missing from the match against Nantes three days later. PSG reported that the Brazilian suffered some sort of rib injury, so he wasn’t included in the application. He didn’t even enter the next match against Lyon. But everything mass media snaps of her birthday with stars and a “white” dress code flew around.
Here, not only the fans had to comment on the situation, but also coach Thomas Tuchel. He diplomatically stated that this “wasn’t the best way to prepare for matches”. And the fans recalled Neymar’s “anger” in the match with Montpellier, believing that he was not so offended by the rudeness of the opponents, but wanted to earn himself a disqualification.
February 2020: got it
After all, Neymar was disqualified. And in the same month. He took part in a spectacular battle with Bordeaux, which ended in victory for the Parisians with a score of 4: 3. And already in stoppage time, Neymar, who had a warning, from the heart unjustifiably crashed into Adli, for which he received a second yellow card.
The disqualification coincided well with the carnival in Brazil. The situation was aggravated by the defeat of Borussia Dortmund in the Champions League. Management PSG, apparently foresaw trouble and asked his stars to be more relaxed about parties. But in the modern age of photo and video recording of everything, it was hard to avoid commercials. Neymar was seen at the party with Cavani, Di Maria and Icardi. Again, Tuchel had to comment on the video that got on the net. But at least in the return leg of Dortmund PSG batted and Neymar scored.
February 2021: Injury season
In the 2020/21 season, Neymar didn’t do much. He has missed matches too often due to various injuries. And his disappointment was open. And even in a series of such injuries one could single out the “favorite” February. Furthermore, Neymar first earned himself a birthday ban, and then also suffered an injury that sidelined him from mid-February to mid-March. By the way, the championship that season PSG gave it to Lille.
February 2022: exception to the rule
February last year was unusual. Neymar, who still suffered during the season with an ankle injury, was ready to fight in February. For the first time in several years, he was not only in the ranks, but also in good shape. However, PSG in the round of 16 I ran into the phenomenal Real Madrid, who showed in that draw that they know how to save from hopeless situations. Neymar couldn’t do anything about it. And it’s hard to restore a reputation after so many years of parties and poker tournaments.
