NEYMAR said he felt “ashamed” after his beloved Santos team were battered 6-0 at home to Vasco da Gama on Sunday.
The superstar winger, 33, was reduced to tears on the pitch after the humbling defeat, which led to the almost immediate sacking of manager Cleber Xavier.
Neymar, who returned to boyhood club Santos earlier this year following his failed Saudi Arabia stint, was furious after the defeat, which was the heaviest of his career.
Former Liverpool and Barcelona star Philippe Coutinho scored twice for Vasco as his side became the first team to ever score six goals away at Santos in a Brazilian Serie A match.
Santos are now just two points above the relegation zone, having won only six of their 19 league games this season.
Neymar said that Santos fans have “every right” to protest given the club’s current state of crisis.
Speaking after the match, he fumed: “I’m ashamed.
“I’m totally disappointed with our performance. The fans have every right to protest, obviously without using violence.
“But if they want to curse and insult, they’re in their right. To sum up our attitude on the field, it was terrible.
“I’ve never experienced this in my life. The tears were from anger, from everything. Unfortunately, I can’t help in every way.
“I think everyone today needs to go home and think about what they want to do.
“Anyway, it was total s***, that’s the reality.”
Santos chiefs didn’t waste any time reacting to the embarrassing defeat, announcing just over 30 minutes after full-time that manager Cleber Xavier had been sacked.
A very brief statement read: “Santos FC announces the departure of coach Cleber Xavier.
“The club thanks him for his service and wishes him well in his future career.”
Xavier, 61, had only been in charge since April, earning the job off the back of long list of assistant roles but never holding a manager’s role before.
Neymar, who was comforted on the pitch by opposition manager Fernando Diniz, has scored just three times in his 11 league appearances for Santos this season.
He and his teammates, which includes Chelsea loanee Deivid Washington, will have to bounce back ahead of a trip to face fourth placed Bahia on Sunday.
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