Valencia WILL axe Gary Neville but are set to allow him to finish the season as manager

Rookie boss who still hasn't won a La Liga game and lost 7-0 in midweek won't be replaced until summer unless his team's next two games are stinkers

 

El plates: Gary Neville's first crack at management has not gone well

Gary Neville is ready to see out this season at Valencia – barring disastrous results in the club’s next two games.
But, at the end of the campaign, owner Peter Lim will replace former Manchester United and England right-back Neville.

Ex-Villarreal, Real Madrid and Malaga boss Manuel Pellegrini – on his way out of Manchester City – and Paco Jemez, the Rayo Vallecano coach, are Valencia’s top targets.

Rafa Benitez was Lim’s preferred choice, having led the Spanish club to two La Liga titles and a UEFA Cup final win between 2001 and 2004.


But the former Liverpool boss wants another Premier League job next season and is wary that it would be difficult to replicate the success he enjoyed at the Mestalla first time around.

Neville has appointed in early December but is still without a La Liga victory.

And after Tuesday’s 7-0 humiliation by Barcelona at the Nou Camp in the first leg of a Copa Del Rey semi-final, there were calls for him to go.

 

However, a meeting of the club council following that game, decreed that Neville will see out the final months of the season.

But not if Sunday’s league clash with Real Betis and Wednesday’s home leg against Barca also end in emphatic defeats.