Taking charge of his first Valencia match as head coach, Neville oversaw a disappointing 2-0 loss at home to already-eliminated Lyon. “It’s that to return to the group is for a player a welcome feeling”, Parejo told Marca.
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Neville took over Valencia on Sunday, a day after the former Manchester United and England defender watched his new team draw 1-1 with Barcelona in the Spanish league. It was my first game in front of these fans who in the second half were absolutely awesome when they were trying to lift the team. We have had some tough moments in this competition.
“I spoke to Alvaro and he’s not played for two months but he is in the squad for tomorrow evening and we’ll need to build up his match sharpness because he’s been out a long time”.
“I can’t sit here and say ‘oh well, I’ve just picked this up and I’m in this position because of someone else”, said Neville, who was speaking exclusively to BT Sport. “The Barcleona game was a huge effort for all the players”.
And Mustafi was desperately unlucky not to get Neville off to a flying start inside 10 minutes as he thundered a header off the post and was then penalised for a foul when he did find the net from Valencia’s next corner.
“I haven’t seen the goal again yet but listening to the players they thought it was a goal”, Neville said afterwards.
“I don’t feel anxious”.
However, although the Italian side were held to a goalless draw, the Bundesliga outfit could not conjure up a victor, despite having plenty of chances in the second half.
But there was nothing he could do to stop Cornet’s remarkable shot into the top corner in the 37th, and Lacazette sealed Lyon’s win with a low shot after a counterattack in the 76th.
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Lyon’s 2-0 win in Spain, earned by goals either side of half-time by Maxwell Cornet and Alexandre Lacazette, ended Valencia’s slim hopes of progressing to the knockout stage.
