Vercauteren supports erroneous Neill

Al Jazira boss Franky Vercauteren has backed defender Lucas Neill, after the Australian made a major blunder in their 4-2 win over Al Wahda.

The 33-year-old, who remains the Socceroos skipper, got in a mix-up with goalkeeper Khalid Essa which allowed Al Wahda’s Hugo to make it 2-1, before Al Jazira scored three times to spare the former West Ham man’s blushes in the UAE Pro-League clash.

Neill also committed a similar error against Al Ain allowing Asamoah Gyan to score in a 3-1 win on December 23.

However, Vercauteren insisted Neill brings plenty to the side despite the mistakes.

“I also look to what he’s bringing, coaching, leading, scoring, which is also important and then you make balance as a coach and you say you have plus and you have minus and what’s happening,” the Belgian boss told reporters.

“Of course you have to avoid (mistakes), and we will have to talk with him this week but games are following up so much that you need everybody in the best condition.”

“So, I’m not the one who is staying with the past, I say again that maybe sometimes you need to kick somebody or to wake him up that’s more important but you have to tell him especially next time what he can do so the thing doesn’t happen anymore.”

UAE champions Al Jazira are second in the Pro-League race this term, four points behind leaders Al Ain.