Gary Neville aims to make Valencia a ‘horrible place’ for visitors

“What we do control is our match and we have to focus on that”, noted Neville, who said the chance of managing Valencia was too good an offer to turn down.

This will be a high-pressure baptism for the eight-time English Premier League victor, but Neville remains unfazed by the challenge. We are working together, analyzing things.

Former head coach Nuno announced his resignation from the club after a 1-0 defeat to Sevilla at the weekend, amid heightened frustrations from the Valencia fans. “They can see that without you opening your mouth, as the players understand football”.

For although Zenit are the only side left with a 100% record in the Champions League and triumphed when Gent visited Russian Federation on matchday two, Andre Villas Boas’ men are also already assured of progression to the knock-out rounds as group winners.

“I spoke to him; he came over to my house”. “Peter and I have both known Gary for some years in both a personal and professional capacity for many years and have always seen him as someone very special”, she said.

“Lyon is a big game, it sets the benchmark straight away”, said Neville.

A win over Gent would make Russian champion Zenit the only team in this year’s Champions League to win all six of its group games, becoming the first Russian club to do so since Spartak Moscow 20 years ago. We’re here to entertain starting tomorrow night.

Neville also stated that he wasn’t nervous at all, but did admit he wasn’t sure whether this was a good or bad thing, adding, “I don’t feel anxious at all”.

But it was his comments about Chelsea which really provided a reminder of Neville the pundit, just a day after the first Monday Night Football programme without the Manchester United legend.

“I explained to Alvaro he’s not played for two or three months and he’s had the operation. No player will be treated any differently and they will all have the opportunity”.

Though as Neville will be quickly made aware, what is more risky for any manager hoping to hang around in the demanding environs of the Mestalla, is presiding over anything other than victory.