PSG boss, Tuchel appeals to fans to accept Neymar

Neymar is a “really good guy” according to Thomas Tuchel – although the Paris Saint-Germain head coach admits such a label might be a hard sell to outsiders.

The Brazil star saw his stock tumble with PSG fans as speculation over a move back to LaLiga dominated pre-season.

Despite being booed on his return, the 27-year-old has four goals in five Ligue 1 appearances this term and Tuchel is not surprised by the instant returns.

“This guy has a good background. It may be hard to imagine when you see it from the outside but he is really a good guy,” the former Borussia Dortmund boss told beIN SPORTS.

“It’s not hard to be close to him and convince him to do the right thing.”

Real Madrid and former club Barcelona were both linked to blockbuster moves for Neymar and Tuchel accepts the player’s head was turned.

“Between us, not much has changed,” he said. “I knew he wanted to leave the club and he knew I was against it, that for me it was neither the right moment nor the right decision to take.

“He clearly knew that as a coach, I did not want him to leave. But we also knew that it was not my decision or really his either in the end.

“There was need for a club to set the price. We both agreed that it was not decided at our level and that this should not affect our relationship, because we knew that there was the possibility of continuing to work together. It would have been stupid to ruin everything.”

Indeed, Tuchel identified last season’s shock Champions League exit against Manchester United as a bigger setback to bounce back from.