Neymar has insisted his wild celebration in front of Joshua Kimmich was not intended to provoke the Bayern Munich man by claiming it was just ‘fate’.
Paris Saint-Germain avenged last year’s Champions League final defeat from Bayern by knocking the holders out on Tuesday night to book their place in the last four.
Ex-PSG forward Eric Maxim Choupo-Moting had made it 3-3 on aggregate when he netted in the 40th minute in the French capital, but Bayern could not find that all-important second they needed to progress.
Despite losing 1-0 on the night, PSG sneaked through on away goals to take a step closer to finally ending their wait for a Champions League trophy.
Neymar, who was reduced to tears when PSG were beaten in last year’s final, was running on high emotions again on Tuesday night and roared in pure joy with Leandro Paredes, right in front of Kimmich when the final whistle sounded.
Kimmich didn’t retaliate, but the Brazilian has now defended his actions by claiming it was ‘fate’ that led him to celebrate in front of the Bayern star before rubbing salt in the German side’s wounds by likening their second-leg performance to a failed romantic pursuit.
Speaking after the game to L’Equipe, Neymar said: ‘The celebration was not trying to provoke Kimmich, but I saw Leo (Paredes) and wanted to celebrate with him.
‘Fate wanted us to do it in front of Kimmich who had said that his team was the best and that they were going to qualify for the semi-finals.
‘But you can have possession of the ball, you can flirt with a girl the whole night, and then see her someone else take her home after just five minutes.’
Neymar, who also revealed that he’s told Mauricio Pochettino he is saving his goals for the semi-final added: ‘I am very happy, despite the defeat’, he told RMC Sport.
‘We came up against a great team. We are also a great team and we showed it tonight. We have eliminated the champions of Europe.’
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