Gary Neville: ‘Very difficult’ times ahead at Valencia – Louis van Gaal

England’s Football Association says Gary Neville will also continue working alongside national coach Roy Hodgson as its squad prepares for Euro 2016 in France.

The former Manchester United defender joins brother Phil as part of the managerial team at the Mestalla in his first venture into management but will remain as England’s number two. I made the decision myself and with my family.

Several of his business ventures have seen Neville strike up a professional relationship with Valencia owner Peter Lim.

While its impossible to go against Barcelona straight up I think that taking Valencia +2 on the handicap here looks like a solid bet. “If I had turned down this job I could have said goodbye to my credibility”.

His first game at the helm will be a crucial Champions League match against Lyon next midweek. You need to know how Valencia is to make it work.

The surprise appointment marks Neville’s first foray into management after Valencia parted company with Nuno Espirito Santo following Sunday’s 1-0 defeat to Sevilla. “I have to provide the answers on football pitch in coming months”.

The club are ninth in Spain’s top flight, five points adrift of the fourth Champions League place.

How long will he stay?

A power struggle behind the scenes saw club president Amadeo Salvo and sporting director Rufete forced out in the summer and a number of super-agent Jorge Mendes’ client stable signed.

“If I am training in England for two years, six months, or one year and I don’t speak one word in English, of course you are thinking I am not interested to know English people”.

“I’ll appoint from within, I won’t bring over an army of coaches”. “I would be skeptical and want to be proven otherwise”. I understand the huge responsibilities I’ve been given. The Catalan giants are on a seven-match winning run across all competitions, conceding only twice in that sequence. If Phil was not here I would have wanted him to be here.

Valencia chairwoman Layhoon Chan also welcomed Neville to the club.

“There is no element of negativity at all”.

Neville, who visited Valencia’s training grounds with club president Layhoon Chan before his presentation, has the support of his new players.

“One thing to announce is that the coach who will be with me will be Phillip, my brother, and Angulo, who’s the coach of the under-19s academy team, a Valencia legend”, he said.

Why swap the studio for the bench now? I want to do what Philip has done.

“Sitting on television, talking about coaches for these last few years, the time had come for me to stand up”. This is a wonderful football club.

This question reeked of the cynicism from the local fans and experts that the former Manchester United man faces before he take over as the manager of Valencia CF. However, Neville in his nonchalant fashion seemed to indicate that he would question his own appointment as the Valencia manager if he were still a pundit on Sky Sports.

“I’d be stupid not to accept that. I am very excited about the challenge that lies ahead together”.

“I didn’t consult Sir Alex but I did speak to him”.