Neymar has set his sights on helping Paris Saint-Germain make history by winning the Champions League as he continues to battle his way back to full fitness.
The world’s most expensive player was forced to watch the first leg of his side’s last-16 tie against Manchester United – a 2-0 victory at Old Trafford – on TV after suffering a metatarsal injury last month.
He will also miss next month’s second leg, but is confident he will be back in action in time to help ‘genius’ manager Thomas Tuchel and his team-mates make it all the way to the final in Madrid.
Speaking on behalf of the Red Bull Neymar Jnr’s Five competition, which returns this year, Neymar said: ‘PSG is not just about me.
‘It has an awesome team with great athletes and a genius coach, and the fans are like a 12th player when we are playing in Paris. ‘I have no doubts that we will be champions and that I will be playing.’
Neymar, who is expected back on the pitch in March, has been documenting his recovery on social media.
On Saturday he posted a clip of himself working hard on an exercise bike, along with a picture of himself chilling out in a pool with his son, Davi Lucca, as he continues his rehabilitation.
‘The treatment has just begun,’ he added. ‘It will be a long journey and I will have little victories day by day. I have played football since I was a little child so it’s very hard to be away from football.
‘In 2018, I faced something similar and I know how bad it is, but that experience made me stronger and more prepared to face what’s coming now.’