After the 4-0 rout of Inter Miami against Paris Saint-Germain during the knockout stages of the Club World Cup, the Uruguayan striker Luis Suarez made remarkable remarks at a press conference. The former FC Barcelona star paid a vibrant tribute to a Parisian player, whom he described as “more talented” that he has faced since his arrival in Miami. Surprisingly, it is neither Bradley Barcola nor Désiré Doué, but another key actor in the overwhelming PSG victory.
“Since I arrived at Inter Miami, I have never faced a player as talented as him. He posed a lot of problems for us; Even if we played the best we could, he did not give us the chance to win, “said Suarez, visibly impressed. According to match analyzes, João Neves, the young Portuguese midfielder from PSG, author of a double and elected best player in the game, is the most likely recipient of these praise. His tireless performance, combining technique, vision of play and recovery, smothered the Inter Miami midfielder, composed in particular of Sergio Busquets and Lionel Messi.
The match, played at the Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta, was a power demonstration of PSG, which folded the case in the first half with four goals, including one from Achraf Hakimi and two from Neves. Suarez, despite a missed opportunity against Gianluigi Donnarumma, did not hide his admiration for the opponent: “They have an incredible team, but this player … He was everywhere. He dictated the pace of the match. »»
This statement comes in a context where Inter Miami, despite the presence of stars like Messi, Suarez, Jordi Alba and Busquets, was upgraded by a PSG in great shape. Luis Enrique, the Parisian coach, also praised the collective performance of his team, stressing the emotion of finding his former FC Barcelona players. For his part, Javier Mascherano, inter Miami coach, admitted that his team was “no chance” after a goal in the 6th minute.
Suarez’s praise for this player, probably Neves, highlight the emergence of a new generation of talents capable of standing up to football legends. While PSG qualifies without trembling for the quarter -finals, Inter Miami, despite this heavy defeat, hopes to learn from the rest of its national competitions. This statement by Suarez will remain as a striking moment of this club World Cup, illustrating respect between champions, even in adversity.
