Valbuena defends Pochettino’s decision to play Neymar

However, 

Mathieu

Valbuena

 defended 

Pochettino’s

 call to play 

Neymar

 against 

Caen

 speaking to RMC Sport.

“In Pochettino’s head, it was necessary to make him play twenty minutes against Marseille, after the gastroenteritis, and give him time to play against Caen

,” 

Valbuena

 said.

 “The fact of playing Nice is also dangerous if we start from this principle.

“I think Neymar was good. In the coach’s mind, he was going to take him out in the last quarter of an hour. He was fit. I don’t see why anyone would accuse Pochettino of making a serious mistake by putting him in.

“If he can play against Caen, he’s playing, to have rhythm. He would have played against Nice again, and he would have been ready to play against Barcelona.”

Valbuena

 is among the many who criticize 

Neymar’s

 playing style as the Brazilian likes going up and facing off in dribble duels against opposing defenders.

“For me, Neymar’s injury is much more due to his lack of intelligence at the time,” 

Valbuena

 said.

 “When he arrives in a match against that of Caen, which is not the match of the year, he must be careful, be smarter and better prepare; he must play much simpler in a lot of situations.

“At 29, you don’t dribble like you’re 22.”