“I have been offered jobs over this last four or five years but the timing was never right”, he said.
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Neville, who succeeds Nuno Espirito Santo following his resignation in the immediate aftermath of Sunday’s 1-0 defeat at Sevilla, admits that if he was analysing the appointment in his previous role, he would have doubts.
Neville was also asked what Gary Neville the pundit would think of an inexperienced Spanish manager getting a top English job and responded, “I’d be sceptical”.
“I am excited and I am proud to have received this huge opportunity with Valencia”. I want to do what Philip has done – his Spanish is fantastic, saw him communicating with the players earlier.
Neville won nine Premier League titles and two Champions League crowns as a player at Manchester United, but apart from being part of the England support staff, he has very little experience in coaching. It was frustrating to be kept out of matches with an injury for the first time of my senior career, but I really enjoy being back.
“My responsibility is to appraise the players as quickly as possible and pick the best system that allows us to win straight away”.
“They love the players, but every time there is like internal fighting and this is disturbing the work of everyone inside the club”. “There is no magic formula.” added Neville, speaking in his first news conference as head coach.
On his family – “My family will move over here permanently. I’m not going to insult Valencia by telling them I’m coming over here and playing football like Manchester United”.
“I have to adapt also as a manager to the culture of England and these dimensions are not always fitting in your way of thinking but you have to do it”. “He is greatly respected in the English football and have been these qualities that have convinced us that it is the right choice to lead the team until the end of season”.
“With me, there was a good discussion because every time I said, ‘OK, you take the ball for 60 per cent and shoot at goal for three times and cross the ball eight times”. My girls will finish school in Manchester in two weeks and will move to Valencia with my wife. I’d be stupid not to take that on board.
“Obviously, I have a lot of interests but they are parked”.
“Roy (Hodgson) was incredibly supportive, positive and enthusiastic for me”. I accept I must prove myself, know doubters will see this as a risky appointment.
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“He understood completely the opportunity for myself”. He’s diligent, hard-working and from my point of view I’m delighted he’s part of the coaching set-up.
