BRAZIL DEFENDER JUAN Jesus has hit back at criticism that his country’s football team is too young to win a gold medal at the London Olympics.
Despite their incredible football pedigree, Brazil have never won an Olympic title and with reigning champions Argentina having failed to qualify, the likes of Neymar, Alexandre Pato and Hulk are expected to inspire their country to a gold medal.
While Brazil’s squad has attracted some criticism for including a large group of home-based players, Jesus believes his team can prove head coach Mano Menezes right.
“Criticism will always be there if you have young players, but I think we can show to Mano every day that he was right to call us up,” Jesus said.
“In working, training and playing good matches we have gained confidence. The people say that we don’t have experience because we are young but we can learn, improve and I think the Olympic Games will serve to help us.”
The 21-year-old defender said Brazil only had one goal for this year’s Olympics.
“We’ve got a lot of expectations, since Brazil has never won the tournament, but we’re training and working hard to get gold,” Jesus said.
The AC Milan striker knows he will need to lead his less-experienced team-mates as he has Olympic experience from the Beijing Games in 2008.
“I first played (at the Olympics) when I was 18 years old,” Pato said.
“Now I’m 22, so four years older. I am still very young, and I still have to co-operate and put energy in this team and I have to enjoy the opportunities.”
