Former Brazil international Gilberto Silva thinks Liverpool midfielder Philippe Coutinho can help to ease the pressure on Neymar for the Selecao.

Neymar is Brazil's talisman and many expectations have been placed on the Barcelona forward's shoulders, pressure which may have told at the 2014 World Cup when Brazil, on home soil, came up short.




Coutinho did not make the 2014 Brazil World Cup squad, but has kicked on with Liverpool since and has forced his way into the reckoning, being notably called up for the Selecao squad for last summer's Copa America.

In total, Coutinho has now won 13 caps for Brazil and scored one goal – and Silva feels the Liverpool midfielder, with others, can step forward to help take some of the pressure off Neymar.
 


Asked by Inside Futbol how Coutinho can help take pressure off Neymar, Silva replied: "Neymar is always under pressure. That is not easy. Neymar understands how to cope with the pressure.

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"It’s important for Coutinho and the other players to help out and ease the pressure on Neymar a bit.

"In general, Brazil are recovering from the last World Cup. They find a way of getting results and playing good football.

"That’s what we all want from the Brazilian national team", the former Arsenal midfielder added.

Despite being just 24 years old, Neymar has already accumulated 70 caps for Brazil, scoring an astonishing 46 goals along the way.