Gerardo Martino to use Neymar sparingly

Neymar of Barcelona celebrates after scoring his team’s opening goal during the Spanish Super Cup first leg match vs. Atletico de Madrid at Vicente Calderon Stadium on August 21, 2013 in Madrid, Spain. (Photo by Denis Doyle/Getty Images)

Barcelona manager Gerardo Martino insisted that he will not push Brazilian star Neymar into his starting eleven just yet.

Spanish media have called upon Martino to select the 21-year-old ace for Wednesday’s Super Cup clash against Atletico Madrid.

The Barca coach has acknowledged Neymar is ready to start but believes it is better that he be used sparingly to secure his development into a long-term star for the club.

“I want to see Neymar as well,” Martino said.

“My obligation is to take care of all the players and especially Neymar because he is young and even if he has a lot of success he is still young.

“My hope is that he can play for Barcelona for 10 or 12 years, rather than that he solves my problems in one match, so this situation goes beyond any one coach.

“The only thing I think I want is the best for the player and I think the way we are acting is positive for him, we are not damaging him.”

The sides head into the match at the Nou Camp with the scores tied at 1-1 and Martino said that he is aware that his team is expected to secure their fourth Super Cup win in five years.

“I have been hearing for a long time that in any competition that Barcelona takes part in we become the favourite,” he said.

“Then we have to live with this pressure and confirm all the things that everyone says in the build-up to the games.

“I am not worried by it, because these players are used to this pressure. And tomorrow we have a very demanding opponent, very difficult, who have the same opportunities that we have.

“Obviously I would like to win the trophy but I am taking part in a Cup I wasn’t involved in last season. It’s something the players and Tito Vilanova were involved in.”