Unai Emery takes swipe at Neymar for having more power at PSG than him after taking charge of Arsenal

UNAI EMERY has taken a parting swipe at Neymar for being above the manager at Paris Saint-Germain.

The new Arsenal manager, who was unveiled last week, has been getting his feet under the desk at the Emirates Stadium.

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And he has revealed how Neymar, 26, has assumed the role of leader at the Parc des Princes, where he landed as the world’s most expensive player, following a £198million switch last summer.

Emery said: “I am of the opinion that PSG’s leader is Neymar. Or that he is currently becoming it. Neymar came to PSG to be the leader, to go through this process to someday become the best in the world.

“It’s a process that will require a bit more time in order to consolidate this position. At Manchester City, Pep is in charge. At PSG, Neymar has to be.

“I think that I managed the dressing room quite well.

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“My greatest satisfaction was that the team didn’t sink, after losing against Barcelona or Real Madrid.

“A few weeks ago for example, we had a horrible first half against Saint-Étienne, but after the break, with one player sent off, we reacted well and managed to equalise.

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“One of my staff members told me: ‘Unai, today the players showed that they are with you. If that weren’t the case, we would have lost.'”

In a wide-ranging interview, translated by France Football, Emery admitted he would not try and control players like he was playing a video game.

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He added: “As a coach, I had the habit of showing players what steps to follow, similar to controlling someone with a joystick.

“Except that when you come to PSG, you realise that the players are the ones who make the most effective decisions.

“One day, I told Neymar that: ‘There are match situations we have worked before the game, but in your case, you imagine those situations by yourself.'”