The 40-year-old has signed on with the club until the end of the season. When I received the call on Sunday evening, I thought ‘what a club, what a challenge.’ I’ve been sitting on television these last years talking about coaches, the time has now come for me to stand up. This is a wonderful club. But he insisted had he not taken the job at Mestalla when it was offered to him on Sunday night he would have lost his credibility.
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PAUL Clement has backed Gary Neville to do well in his new job as head coach of Spanish club Valencia.
McClaren said: “You have to adapt quickly and I think he has an advantage in that Phil has been there, so that might fast-track things a little better”.
“I would be sceptical and would want to be proven otherwise”, he said. I understand and respect the huge responsibility that I have been given.
“I am sure he has prepared for this for the last four or five years”.
Saul Niguez is expected to replace the Portuguese after his winning goal in the Cup against Reus in midweek, whilst Colombian striker Jackson Martinez is still doubtful with an ankle injury. Neville will not take charge of the match at the Mestalla, leaving his younger brother and interim manager Salvador Gonzalez in charge.
“The main difficulty he’ll have is the language and getting to grips with Spanish football”, he continued.
“I watched a lot of football and read a lot about the game and I still do which certainly helps”.
“Three years ago the club gave a former player, Mauricio Pellegrino, his first proper coaching job”. David, who works in video analysis speaks English and Spanish, he translated this morning. We’ve spoken to the team and you can focus on Suarez and Neymar and Messi but I think it’s about us tomorrow and how we play and whether we have the courage to go toe-to-toe with them.
“Gary has never hidden his ambition – he relishes working alongside Roy Hodgson with England – and I don’t blame him for taking this opportunity”.
“Gary has gone down the coaching pathway and through all the levels and John Peacock in his role as a coach educator was instrumental in bringing him through”, said Clement. “I will take lessons every day – but I can’t find a teacher to get up at 6am”.
“But I have confidence in myself and my understanding of the game and my belief is strong”.
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Valencia chair Layhoon Chan, meanwhile, rejected suggestions that Neville had been appointed because of his close links with Singaporean billionaire Lim, with whom he co-owns non-league Salford City.
