'Everybody has lost millions': PSG director Leonardo hits back at Thomas Tuchel's criticism of transfer activity

Manager complained club had not done enough to bolster the squad

Neymar had a great night for PSG against Angers. Reuters

Neymar celebrates scoring their second goal with Kylian Mbappe. Reuters

PSG's Kylian Mbappe celebrates after scoring his side's sixth goal against Angers at the Parc des Princes. AP

Neymar (L) celebrates with teammates after scoring the third. EPA

Neymar after sustaining an injury. Reuters

Neymar, left, scores his side's third goal. AP

Kylian Mbappe and Neymar in action. AFP

Neymar takes on Angers midfielder Antonin Bobichon. AFP

Neymar Jr speaks with Kylian Mbappe during the warm up. EPA

Julian Draxler celebrates scoring the fourth. Reuters

PSG players celebrate after Idrissa Gueye scored their side's fifth. AP

Italian defender Alessandro Florenzi celebrates after scoring the first goal. AFP

Paris Saint-Germain coach Thomas Tuchel congratulates Neymar and midfielder Ander Herrera. AFP

Problems within Paris Saint-Germain got exposed following sporting director Leonardo's remarks in the aftermath of their win in Ligue 1 over the weekend.

After his team defeated Angers 6-1 with Neymar scoring twice and Kylian Mbappe striking once, Leonardo spoke to journalists at the Parc des Princes and responded to manager Thomas Tuchel's criticism the day before of the club's transfer activity.

Leonardo said that neither he nor the club "appreciated" Tuchel's assertion that the PSG squad had been weakened since they reached the Champions League final in August.

"If someone is not happy, if he decides to stay, he must respect either the sports policy or the internal rules," Leonardo said.

"You have to understand the moment we are all living through, these are very serious situations. Not understanding this situation, we didn't like it. Now we're going to address it internally."

Tuchel complained on Thursday that the club had not done enough ahead of what is a demanding and compressed season. Leonardo responded that the problems created by the coronavirus extended beyond the playing field.

"Everybody has lost millions, it's weird to talk about it. Nobody is buying , except in England, which is a world apart", said Leonardo, adding that the health crisis had cost PSG almost €100 million ($117m).

It was the first time that Leonardo has publicly criticised the coach, who he inherited when he took over in July 2019.

PSG won every domestic trophy available in France last season before losing narrowly to Bayern Munich in August's Champions League final in Lisbon.

However, since the end of last season their captain Thiago Silva, all-time top scorer Edinson Cavani, right-back Thomas Meunier, striker Eric Maxim Choupo-Moting and defensive starlet Tanguy Kouassi have left.

Apart from making Mauro Icardi's loan move from Inter Milan into a permanent transfer, the only new arrivals are right-back Alessandro Florenzi, on loan from Roma, and third-choice goalkeeper Alexandre Letellier.