Gary Neville is adamant he can deliver success as manager of 'historic' Valencia as Man United legend admits:  'If I had turned this down I would have lost my credibility'

Gary Neville admitted that his pundit persona would be asking serious questions over his appointment as Valencia coach but said he was determined to prove the doubters wrong.

He was presented to reporters at the Mestalla on Thursday and admitted he comes with no Spanish and was only approached to take the job on Sunday.

There will be questions over his capacity to turn their season around and over the wisdom of his friend Peter Lim giving him the job with no previous experience as a No 1.

Former Manchester United defender Gary Neville talks to the media as he is unveiled as Valencia manager

Neville holds up a Valencia shirt on the Mestalla Stadium pitch during his unveiling as their new manager

The 40-year-old left his role as a Sky Sports pundit and commentator to take over at the Spanish club

Neville said: ‘What would Gary Neville the pundit say? He would question it and be sceptical and he would want to be proven wrong. I’ve not shied away from questioning such things in the past. I know I have to prove to the Valencia fans that any doubts and reservations that they might have will only disappear when we win.’

Asked about the timing of his jump from the Sky television studios to one of the most difficult dug-outs in football he said: ‘I have been offered jobs in football but the timing has never felt right before. When I received the call on Sunday evening I thought "what a football club, what a challenge".

‘I’ve been on the television for the last few years talking about managers and coaches and now it is the time for me to stand up. If I had turned down this job I would have said goodbye to my credibility. A club this big is a chance too good to turn down. When a club as historic as Valencia calls you, you have to accept it.’

Neville confirmed he had Roy Hodgson’s full backing in taking the job and said despite the brevity of his contract he had long-term plans with his first top job.

He said: ‘The only way to approach any job is to think of it as permanent even though this is only for six months at the moment. We will make long-term decisions from the start.

‘My family will move over here permanently. My girls will finish school in two weeks time and will live here. In England as a player I always wanted foreign players at my club to immerse themselves in the culture and I intend to do the same thing. 

Neville arrives to address the media and said he was only approached about the job on Sunday

Neville smiles with Valencia chairwoman Layhoon Chan as he explained his vision for the club

A smart custom Valencia shirt with 'Gary Neville' on the back was on show at the press conference

He said: ‘When I spoke to Roy he gave me his complete support - 100 per cent. He is right behind me. There are international fixtures in March but that will not be a problem because the league will have an international break. Valencia will be the 95 per cent priority with those two friendlies as well. But being here does not mean I will not still be able to have conversations with Roy on the telephone.’

The full ‘immersion’ into Spanish culture will mean learning the language and he admitted that he will need to lean on brother Phil who has already started speaking Spanish.

‘I don’t speak the language but I will take lessons every day although I have a problem that I don’t have a Spanish teacher who will get up at 6am every morning to give me lessons. I have to show same commitment as Phillip has because I was with him on the training ground this morning and was surprised at how fluent he is.’

Neville poses for the camera as he begins his reign as manager of La Liga side Valencia on Thursday

Neville walks off the Mestalla Stadium pitch after posing with the club's shirt at his unveiling

Asked about working with his brother and former United team-mate he said: ‘If Phil wasn’t here I would want him to be here. There is nothing negative about us working together.’

He refused to answer questions about who his favourite three coaches had been but he did say that he would lean on the know-how of some he has worked with.

‘I did not consult Sir Alex [Ferguson]’ he said. ‘I have spoken to him in the last few days though. And he has offered me his support as have other Premier League coaches who have experience in La Liga. I would be foolish not to take that offer.’

The media packed into to listen to what Neville had to say regarding his new role as Valencia manager

Neville’s biggest challenge is turn around a team lacking in confidence after a run of poor results and the departure of manager Nuno Espirito Santo. 

‘This was always a horrible place to play football for opposing teams,’ said Neville. ‘It was intimidating and I want it to be ferocious again as it was against United when it was difficult to get a shot on target let alone score a goal.

‘Salford City is parked for now,’ he said when asked about his Manchester commitments. ‘They have a 14-strong board and the club runs itself extremely well. I don’t play for them so they will cope without me.’

Neville confirmed that former Valencia winger Miguel Angulo would be joining his coaching team and said that the last three days had been like a whirlwind.

Neville said he had passed other opportunities, 'I needed the last five years to learn and mature'

‘On Sunday evening I had the first contact with Peter [Lim]. Monday evening I accepted after discussing it with my family. Tuesday we talked about the logistics. Wednesday was the announcement and today I’m here. I think it would have been unprofessional to have taken charge of the team on Saturday so my first game will be against Lyon next week.

‘The intention is to win. But if I win then that doesn’t make me a top coach just as not getting the results will not make me a bad coach. But I know it is about results and it’s a judgemental business, I have just come from that world of judging the work of coaches.’

He was questioned by local journalists about his relationship with the owner but he dodged the question replying simply: ‘The relationship with Peter Lim is not a challenge for me. Inexperienced coaches succeed and experienced ones fail. I accept that I have to prove myself and answer these questions in the coming months.’

The media saw the unveiling of Neville who said, 'The absolute intention is to have success straight away'

He met the players on Thursday morning but said that he did not bombard them with new information about himself or his plans. 

‘It’s very important that they concentrate on the game against Barcelona without me saying too much to them at this stage.

‘Phillip speaks very highly of the squad in terms of its dedication and ability and their enthusiasm to train and to work hard. And that gives me enthusiasm to get started. In terms of advice I will listen to Phillip and to Angulo.’

As a public relations exercise it went well for the new Valencia coach. He got the fans onside adding: ‘The football fan is the most important person at the club and we have to meet their demands. I have been told how demanding they are here but they should be because this is a club that deserves success.’

Neville (right) arrived at Valencia's training ground on Thursday along with Chan and brother Phil Neville