Football: Mourinho’s injection anecdote and Ancelotti praises Neymar

Portuguese football manager José Mourinho recalled a past incident in which a player suffered a small fracture of the middle toe on his foot. The team doctor said the injury posed no serious risk and the player could play despite the pain, offering a small anesthetic injection. The player refused, saying he could not play while in pain. Mourinho then removed his own shoe and sock, asked the doctor to give him the injection, and received it in his own finger. He later offered the same to the player, who still declined, resulting in the player missing subsequent matches.

Brazilian national team coach Carlo Ancelotti, speaking after Brazil’s 3‑0 victory over Scotland in the World Cup group stage in Miami, said Neymar earned his playing time and does not need motivation to wear the Brazilian shirt. Ancelotti highlighted Neymar’s hard work on his recovery, his brief but effective minutes on the pitch, and his potential contribution to the team’s success in the tournament.