Neymar Targeting Sextuple for Barcelona, Defends Lionel Messi Amid Critics

Bettering the achievements of the 2014-15 season may not be possible for this Barcelona squad, but according to the club’s Brazilian winger Neymar, replicating the feat is something they are definitely capable of.

The Catalan club clicked into gear in devastating fashion in 2015, sweeping aside all before them with some mesmeric attacking displays.

Luis Enrique’s side eventually ended up winning a treble of trophies, clinching the Copa del Rey, La Liga title and Champions League.

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“Treble is a beautiful word,” said Neymar in an interview with Joaquim Piera of Sport. “But I have learned another that I like more—it’s sextuple. And this has to be our objective, we have to prepare ourselves to be ready to conquer immediately.”

It’s a major ask. After all, no team has been able to retain the Champions League in its current format, and often, after winning it all, the motivation for players in the group may not be at peak levels.

But speaking from a personal perspective, Neymar admitted in the aforementioned interview that won’t be a problem for him:

"

This [losing a hunger for titles], never!

The season has been wonderful, something incredible, but I always want more. I'm never satisfied, I maintain the same hunger to keep winning more leagues, Champions Leagues, Copas. The people can be calm because we want more.

"

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One man who has now won two of these illustrious trebles in his glittering career is Lionel Messi. Neymar’s team-mate was magnificent during Barca’s run toward all three prizes and, as we can see here courtesy of Squawka Football, formed a formidable attacking front three alongside the Brazilian and Luis Suarez:

But on the international scene it’s been different for Messi. The Argentina skipper led his side to another final defeat in a major tournament this summer, making it consecutive runners-up finishes in the World Cup and Copa America.

As noted by Piera, Messi has been criticised in some quarters of the Argentinian media for his displays, but Neymar has lent some effusive support to his team-mate.

“Everyone we were with during the whole year, and our fans know that Leo is the best,” said the winger. “He is No. 1.”

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Indeed, it must be a distinct pleasure for Neymar to be playing alongside arguably the greatest man ever to play the game, and the clear affinity that exists between the two has been central to Barcelona’s success as of late.

Will they secure back-to-back trebles? It would be an historic achievement if they do, especially with the club unable to add new players to their squad until January 2016.

But with that remarkable attacking trio in situ, this is a team capable of anything, and having watched them roar to myriad glories last season, you would not rule out the prospect at this point.