Confident Gary Neville sets out vision for Valencia

New Valencia head coach Gary Neville said he hoped to play a long-term role in owner Peter Lim’s “project” as he was presented at the La Liga club’s Estadio Mestalla yesterday afternoon.

The former Manchester United defender turned star TV pundit has been appointed to his first management job — where he faces a stiff challenge to persuade sceptical local observers wondering if his friendship with the club’s owner has given him a difficult job he is not really qualified to do.

After first talking to Lim about taking the position just last Sunday, Neville was guided around the club’s Paterna training ground by club chairwoman Layhoon Chan yesterday morning, before later facing the media.