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Paris Saint-Germain head coach Thomas Tuchel defended Neymar but also said he understood why the wantaway star was targeted by the club’s own supporters during Sunday’s Ligue 1 win over Nimes.

Neymar – tipped to leave the French champions amid links to Barcelona and Real Madrid – sat out the 3-0 victory against Nimes as PSG opened their title defence with three points.

Amid growing speculation over an imminent departure, sections of the Parc des Princes aimed derogatory chants towards Neymar before and during the match.

“It’s a little difficult, I don’t know what to say. I saw [the public’s reaction on Neymar] on my colleagues’ phones because I hadn’t heard that during the game,” Tuchel said about the chants directed at Neymar.

“Can I understand that? Yes and no, that’s the way it is in our lives. The emotions are serious, the emotions are still there, okay. But on the other hand, Neymar is still our player, still my player, and I will always protect my players. He’s in the locker room, he’s here and I’ll protect him.

“I can understand that not everyone likes what he said and what he did. I understand, but we have to express a level to express our emotion.”

Asked if PSG missed Neymar against Nimes, Tuchel added: “He is still missing, because he can find solutions that only he can find. He can open spaces with movements, accelerations, one against the other.

“It was a little lacking today to be more decisive in the first half. But we have to find other solutions, we have to give rhythm with passes, with intensive runs. But it’s clear, he’s Neymar, and he has extraordinary qualities. If he is not on the field, he is missing, but it is our challenge to find solutions. We still have to improve.”

While Neymar was absent on Sunday, Edinson Cavani, last season’s top scorer Kylian Mbappe and Angel Di Maria led the way for PSG in Paris.

After Cavani broke the deadlock via the penalty spot in the first half, Mbappe and Di Maria put the result beyond doubt following the interval.

“The best thing is that they [Neymar and Mbappe] play together,” Tuchel said. “It is not a question of whether Mbappe can give more when Neymar is not there.

“Kylian gives a lot, he’s been very focused for four weeks now. He puts a lot of intensity into training, into matches. It’s great for the team to improve. But the best thing is that Neymar is next to him.”

Mbappe, who hinted he could be ready for a “new project” following the 2018-19 season, scored a Ligue 1-high 33 goals as PSG retained their crown last term.

“As I said last year, he is invited by the club to take more responsibilities every day. Taking responsibilities does not mean taking every penalty, hitting every corner or every free-kick,” Tuchel continued. “It’s not like that, there are many ways to take responsibilities, and he does that.

“He started this season with a lot of concentration, I’m very happy. He’s here, I have a feeling he’s happy. He has objectives for himself and the team, and he does everything to achieve them. He gives his opinion, and we’re going to keep developing that. He has a good relationship with everyone, he is reliable.”

Chelsea boss Frank Lampard says he plans to be patient with Christian Pulisic after the USMNT winger was only named as a substitute for their season opener at Manchester United.

With the Blues currently serving a transfer ban, Pulisic is the only new signing at Chelsea this summer after his £58 million ($73m) switch from Borussia Dortmund was agreed in January.

Lampard opted against handing Pulisic a start in his first competitive match in charge of the club on Sunday, choosing instead to field Pedro and Ross Barkley in the wide areas with England youngster Mason Mount in support of forward Tammy Abraham.

Pulisic eventually did make it onto the field in the 58th minute when he replaced England international Barkley. Chelsea were already 1-0 down at that stage courtesy of a first half penalty from Marcus Rashford.

Pulisic had little time to make an impact on the game before United doubled their lead through Anthony Martial on 66 minutes.

Further breakaway goals from Rashford and debutant Daniel James completed a sobering afternoon for Chelsea at Old Trafford, with the final 4-0 scoreline the heaviest ever opening-day league defeat in the club’s 104-year history.

Speaking after the game Lampard revealed his reasons behind his team selection and his plans for Pulisic going forward.

“Christian Pulisic is 20 years old and he’s come across from Dortmund. He will be a fantastic player for the club. He has got great ability. You saw little moments with his acceleration on the ball,” Lampard told reporters.

“But I have also got other options in midfield and in those areas, and I don’t want to stick Christian straight into the fire without trying to help him along the way. It was one of those games where I felt it was better to start with Ross [Barkley] and Mason [Mount], who have been very strong in pre-season, and bring Christian on.

“If the game had carried on at 1-0, or we were back in the game as we should have been, he would have been a great injection. In the end it was difficult for him because the game went quickly away from us.”

Barcelona goalkeeper Neto is facing a spell on the sidelines after fracturing a bone in his left wrist.

The 30-year-old arrived at Camp Nou from Valencia during the off-season in a deal worth an initial €26 million (£23m/$30m.

With Jasper Cillessen moving the opposite way, Neto was brought in to provide competition for Marc-Andre ter Stegen.

But Ernesto Valverde now faces being without his back-up keeper for the opening stages of the season as he picked up an injury in the final training session ahead of Saturday’s friendly against Napoli.

Barcelona announced on their official website that Neto has been diagnosed with a scaphoid bone fracture and the extent of the injury will be determined on Monday.

Reports in Spain suggest the Brazilian, who featured in Barcelona’s first four pre-season matches, is likely to miss five weeks of action.

While Neto’s time at Barcelona has started in rough fashion, the former Valencia keeper recently described his move to Camp Nou as a dream.

“It’s a dream for any footballer. When you talk about Barcelona, ever player at the highest level wishes to play for a team like this one,” Neto told SPORT.

“It’s very different. It means your hard work has paid off when your club can compete for every trophy available.

“For me, as someone who likes to always win, to compete at the highest level is the best.”

Barcelona begin their La Liga campaign with a trip to Athletic Bilbao on Friday and face Real Betis and Osasuna before the end of the month.

The reigning Spanish champions will also likely be without Lionel Messi for their season opener, with Valverde declaring he’s a major doubt due to a calf strain.

“He’s in the recovery process and I don’t know if he will be ready for the start of La Liga,” Valverde told a news conference after a 4-0 win over Napoli in Michigan on Saturday.

“It’s looking difficult.”

Barcelona have won their last four games of pre-season with their final victory over Napoli seeing Antoine Griezmann net his first goal for the club.