The Brazil coach said he hopes Barcelona striker become his nation's all-time top goalscorer, but insists that what matters most is that he becomes a World champion
Brazil coach Dunga says the team will help Neymar become the nation's all-time top goalscorer, but warned that the only number that will really matter come the end of his career is how many World Cups he has won.
The Barcelona striker has netted eight of Brazil’s 17 goals since Dunga’s arrival as coach in July 2014, inspiring the Selecao to seven consecutive victories.
But for all his fine individual form, 1994 World Cup-winning captain Dunga says all Neymar should really concern himself with is becoming a world champion.
“We do hope he becomes Brazil’s record goalscorer and we will try and help him to do that,” Dunga told a press conference.
“But the number of goals he scores won’t be a problem – it’s about how many World Cups he wins.”
The 23-year-old now has 43 goals in 61 internationals and is widely tipped to eclipse Pele’s total of 77 official international strikes by the time he hangs up his boots.
He is expected to start Sunday’s Chevrolet Brasil Global tour clash with Chile at the Emirates Stadium in London, though Dunga refused to be drawn on whether he would change his side less than three days on from Thursday’s 3-1 victory over France in Paris.
“In principle we intend to change the team a little bit because we only have 72 hours since the last game… We have to wait and see what the recovery time is for each individual.”
Arsenal’s Gabriel Paulista is hoping to make his international debut, but Dunga says the fact that the defender has the chance to appear in his home stadium will have no bearing on the team’s selection.
“He’s been in very good form,” Dunga said.
“We have been observing him since he was in Spain and he has been playing very well. But just because he is playing at his home ground it does not mean he will play. If we picked players depending on where we play then the team would be constantly changing."
