Valencia fan dies during tie against Barcelona

New Valencia coach Gary Neville will be a mere spectator as his side face the daunting task of halting European champions Barcelona’s free-scoring form on Saturday.

Fresh from a 4-0 win against Real Sociedad, Barcelona has won 6 straight games in La Liga as they sit 4 points clear at the top of the table.

But after an inspired Valencia side somehow stole a point against Barca, all focus now shifts to the must-win clash with Lyon on Wednesday night.

“The difficulty is in coming up against a team who sit back and is strong”.

They believed United were handed the easiest group and should have qualified top with a match to spare, but the only way Van Gaal’s men can guarantee their progression to the last 16 is if they beat Wolfsburg away in their final match on Tuesday.

Asked about how he envisages his professional relationship with his brother, Neville said: “I don’t see any problems”. There was the way supporters had lined the streets two hours before kick-off to give the Barcelona team coach an intimidating welcome.

There is now a charisma about him – something he never showed as a player – that shines whenever he talks about the game. “I am happy with the ambition and the attitude from my team in the game”.

Valencia supporters are well known in Spain for their demanding expectations, and there were mixed reactions to Neville’s appointment. “Messi pay your taxes”, the Valencia supporters belted out from behind the south goal, provoking a wave from the Argentine.

Gary Neville, 40, was presented as the head coach in a press conference on Thursday.

Former Spanish International Alvaro Negredo, who joined Valencia this summer on a permanent transfer from Manchester City, has not played for the club since early October after he criticized Nuno in a radio interview.

There was a unity on the pitch, too.

Although the Dutchman is unlikely to be leaving any time soon, according to the BBC senior figures at United are said to be expecting to replace him in 2017 when his contract expires. “They [Valencia] were very good in defence and they made the most of the great piece of play by Alcácer and the great finish from Mina”.

“We lacked that extra goal to put the game at ease”.

Valencia claimed Suarez was lucky to stay on the field at the start of the second period as he appeared to stamp on Aymen Abdennour’s foot after a heated exchange between the two.

Although he has ended his affiliation with Sky, Neville will continue in his coaching position alongside Roy Hodgson in the England set-up and does not envisage any issues arising from his dual commitments, revealing all of his other projects will take a back seat for the time being.