Juninho: Neymar can't replace Lionel Messi's output at Barcelona

Juninho Pernambucano says Neymar should not spend the next six weeks trying to be Lionel Messi. 

With the Argentine injured, the onus is on the Brazilian to step up, but Juninho advises him not to become obsessed with trying to be the main man in Luis Enrique’s side. 

“His worry must not be ‘I’m going to to fill in for Messi, I’m going to shoot and score all the goals and make all the plays,’” Marca reported the former Lyon player saying. 

“That can’t be the case, he can’t obsess [about being Barcelona’s Messi].

“It’s much more difficult to be the protagonist at Barcelona than for the Brazilian national tram. 

“With Messi’s absence, maybe the pressure is higher [for Neymar], but he’s already accustomed to that. He had it at Santos and he also has it with Brazil. 

“We have to have to patience with him. It’s not easy to play with Brazil or with Barça, the best team in the world. 

“And when the best player in the world isn’t there, it’s even more difficult. 

“He should, maybe, take the initiative more. He should be agent and concentrate more than usual knowing that Messi is there and, maybe, he should take the initiative and be closer to the other players.”