‘I’d lose credibility rejecting Valencia’

Gary Neville revealed the risk of ‘losing credibility’ by rejecting Valencia was part of the reason he took the position.

Neville was the surprise choice to replace Nuno Santo, who resigned on Sunday, and was on Thursday unveiled at a Press conference that ran more than an hour.

“I’ve been offered jobs in football over the last four or five years and the timing never felt right. I wanted time to learn coming out of football,” he told reporters, having worked as a television pundit and assistant to England manager Roy Hodgson since retirement.

“When I received the call on Sunday I thought what a club, what a challenge, what an opportunity. From my point of view on TV the last few years talking about Coaches the time has come for me to stand up.

“This is a wonderful club. I’m precious about what I associate with. If I’d turn this job down I could have said goodbye to credibility.”

Brother Phil Neville worked with Nuno and will remain now Gary is in place, alongside Valencia legend Miguel Angulo, and Gary sees no issue with the situation.

“I don’t see any problems. If Phil wasn’t here I’d want him here. He’s diligent, hard-working, talented,” Neville said of the former Everton captain.

“I’m delighted he’s here to be a part of the set up. In terms of professional relationships we don’t do niceties, we talk about what we’re going to do.

“I’ve been asking advice, when we’re going to train, detailed information about the players. There’s no negativity at all, the professional way we’ve worked for 25 years isn’t going to be a problem.”

The rest of Neville’s first Press conference as Valencia Coach is here, here, here and here.

Image via www.valenciacf.com

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