Neymar is like Messi, says Martino

The coach also praised Alexis Sanchez and
Cristian Tello for stepping up to the mark in
the Argentine's absence, as the Blaugrana
strolled to victory at Camp Nou
Gerardo Martino saluted Neymar as being just
as influential for Barcelona as talisman Lionel
Messi following the team's 4-1 triumph over
Valladolid.
The Argentina international missed the match
due to injury but his fellow South American
slotted into the No.10's role seamlessly.
And it was the Brazilian prodigy's impact, in
conjunction with Alexis Sanchez and Christian
Tello's form, that had Martino purring after
the game.
"He [Neymar] is a player that, like Messi, no
matter whether he plays left, right or centre,
always plays well," Martino enthused to
reporters.
"Neymar dominates every facet of the game
and keeps striving to improve. In two months,
he has integrated into our system. It is very
difficult to find such players of his age.
"Alexis knows the opinion I have of him as a
player. I had said I wanted to see the Sanchez
that played for Marcelo Bielsa's Chile. He
played an excellent game today.
"Tello played a fine, he created various
situations for us and made a decisive goal for
us. It isn't easy for him as he's played less
minutes."
Martino is the first coach in the history of la
Liga to win his opening eight matches but he
was more satisfied with the way in which his
side had responded to falling behind early on.
"In the first part of the game we lacked
intensity but I liked the second half my team
put on, we had control of the game," the 50-
year-old concluded.
"I always had the feeling we were in charge.
We only have to improve on the first 20
minutes."