An emotional Neymar stated he was left “ashamed” after his Santos facet had been on the tip of a 6-0 house defeat by Vasco da Gama on Sunday – a humiliation that led to the sacking of their head coach, Cléber Xavier.
Philippe Coutinho was on the scoresheet twice as Vasco discovered the web 5 occasions within the house of 16 second-half minutes as a part of a rout that leaves Santos two factors above the relegation locations in Brazil's Serie A. At full-time, house supporters turned their backs to the pitch within the newest protest in opposition to the state of the crew and membership as an entire.
“I'm ashamed,” stated Neymar, who was in tears as he left the pitch. “I'm completely disillusioned with our efficiency. The followers have each proper to protest, clearly with out utilizing violence. But when they need to curse and insult, they're of their proper. To sum up our perspective on the sphere, it was horrible.
“I've by no means skilled this in my life. The tears had been from anger, from every little thing. Sadly, I can't assist in each means.”
Santos, synonymous with greats comparable to Pelé, had been relegated for the primary time of their historical past in 2023 earlier than returning to the highest flight final season. They re-signed Neymar, who got here by the ranks on the membership earlier than leaving for Barcelona in 2013, on a short-term contract in January of this 12 months.
“It's a disgrace to play like that sporting the Santos jersey,” Neymar stated. “I believe everybody in the present day wants to put their head on their pillow, go house, and take into consideration what they need to do. As a result of with in the present day's perspective, if now we have to do what we did in the present day on the sphere, I don't suppose we even want to point out up on Wednesday.”
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The 6-0 scoreline is the most important lack of Neymar's profession and was sufficient for Santos to sack Xavier, who solely took over in April in his first job as a head coach. The 61-year-old leaves Santos with 21 factors from 19 video games in Brazil's prime flight, with fellow battlers for survival Vasco now solely two factors behind them.
