“I’m not going to insult Valencia by saying I’m coming over here and playing football like Manchester United”, Neville told reporters. He knows his own mind.
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“When I was a player I always wanted foreign players to come over and immerse themselves in the culture and that is what I plan to do”.
Is it a “risky appointment”?
His first game in charge of Valencia will be the Champions League meeting with Lyon. “I think it’s absolutely vital that I show that level of commitment even though it is, at this moment in time, a six-month position”.
Valencia is an unlikely first destination for Neville’s first foray as head coach, having been handed the Mestalla reins until the end of the season.
According to this congratulatory tweet, Keys seems to think that he is the man to usher Neville across the threshold of success and into the exclusive “big time” club.
“I think the only way to approach any job is to think of it as permanent job”.
Flores, who played nearly 300 times for the Mestalla club, added: “I love Valencia”.
“When I arrived in Valencia, they didn’t win anything in 25 years. I want to bring stability”.
Since retiring as a player in 2011, Neville has kept himself busy as a coach, a pundit and an entrepreneur.
When I was there, I said, “Keep possession of the ball”.
“For anyone who has concerns, those concerns will only be removed by winning football matches”.
Neville’s assistant will be his younger brother Phil, another former United player who joined Valencia as a coach in the close season.
“There is no element of negativity at all”.
“In terms of experience, we’ve all seen inexperienced coaches succeed and experienced coaches fail”.
Neville is determined to adapt to the players at his disposal, however, and says it would be insulting to arrive in Spain talking about how things are done at United.
Why swap the studio for the bench now?
According to Sky Sports’ Spanish football expert Guillem Balague, however, most Valencia fans were expecting a more high-profile appointment. He’s hard-working and talented and from my point of view I’m delighted he’s part of the coaching set-up.
Lim, a Singaporean billionaire, is a shareholder along with Neville in English minor league club Salford City and Hotel Football in Manchester. But I have confidence in myself and my belief is strong.
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New Valencia coach Gary Neville has said that the challenge of managing the La Liga side was so enticing that he could not afford to turn it down. He offered support and advice and encouragement. Not just from him but from Roy Hodgson and other managers who have experience of La Liga. I was inspired by the conversation I had with him. He understood completely the opportunity for myself and was supportive 100 per cent.
