Gary Neville has opened up on his ill-fated spell as Valencia manager – a four-month period that left him feeling "massively inferior" to rival managers.
Following the resignation of Nuno Espírito Santo in November 2015, the inexperienced Neville was appointed Valencia head coach until the end of the 2015/16 campaign.
In total, he took charge of 28 matches, winning 10, drawing seven and losing 11.
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Under his management, Valencia scored 39 goals and conceded 38 – a record that eventually got Neville the sack as the La Liga side sat in 14th, just six points clear of the relegation zone.
Neville has spoken on numerous occasions about his spell at the Mestalla but on Wednesday's episode of Stick To Football – brought to you by Sky Bet – the former Manchester United defender shed new light on that period.
He not only described what it was like coming up against Diego Simeone, Ernesto Valverde and Luis Enrique, but gave a further insight into his decision to take the role.
He began: “After a couple months into the job at Valencia, I remember looking at myself in the mirror one morning and thinking that I looked ill.
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"I remember we played three times against Athletic Bilbao, in the Europa League quarter-final and in a league game, and Ernesto Valverde was the coach – he played a different system that I thought he would and then he changed during the game, and I remember thinking that I was nowhere near that level.
"I felt massively inferior to him because I struggled to manager and watch the game from pitch level, especially compared to how I see the game in the gantry."
He continued: “You put yourself on the touchline and you’re watching a game where all you can see is legs, and how you think of the game tactically or how managers spot things, I have no idea because I remember thinking that I had no idea what was going on.
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“Seeing Valverde was the first time that I felt that I was miles off and then I coached against Diego Simeone, and on that day, I felt like he was beating me up in every way – with his tactics, his intimidation, and his mannerisms.
“The other one was Luis Enrique, when Barcelona beat us 7-0 in the Copa del Rey, when they were winning 5-0, he didn’t substitute Neymar, Lionel Messi, or Luis Suárez, and at the end of the game, he walked straight past me and didn’t shake my hand, which I felt that he was sending me a message that I didn’t belong."
Rafael Benitez, however, was "good" to him throughout that period.
"We played Real Madrid, and he was under pressure at the time, but after the game he came over to me and shook my hand, and he was actually very good with me," Neville added.
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As mentioned earlier, Neville discussed his decision to accept the Valencia job, despite having no previous experience as a head coach at the highest level.
He said: “I finished playing football at 36. I get two pieces of land in Manchester and some of the lads are willing to put in some of the money in with me, we get to about half of it and you need someone to believe in you to put in that extra money, otherwise you have to lose the land, you don’t build it.
"One of them was the hotel across the road from Old Trafford and the club at the time were saying I don’t think they will do it and we won’t get the money.
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“Peter [Lim] believed in us, he put money into us and let us run the project. When someone puts money into you it’s a massive responsibility; if someone gives you their money it’s a massive responsibility to be able to look after it, to make sure it is used well and making sure you give them the money back. So, he gave me a start in my life in terms of business and naturally for people who have helped you, you would do something for them.
“He [Peter Lim] never asked me for anything, and he never has. He asked me one thing - would I go over for him? [to Valencia] I knew it wasn’t right, but how can I say no to him when he has believed in me?
“I loved Valencia by the way, the place, the weather, the city, honestly. There was no ultimatum, and he wasn’t pressurising me or anything like that. He said ‘Gary, I would really like you to do it for me.’
"I felt like I owed him, and I think I did. I think it was the right thing to do for that reason, but wrong football reasons.”
Topics: Valencia, La Liga, Gary Neville, Spain
Jack Kenmare