Barcelona’s trip to Valencia on Saturday was expected to be a walkover for the La Liga champions, with Los Che struggling for form and managerless after the sacking of Nuno.
But today’s appointment of Gary Neville as the new head coach will see extra interest in the match from the UK, and perhaps a more difficult clash than the Catalans had been expecting against the ninth-placed Valencia.
The former England international has been handed his first managerial role by Valencia chairman Peter Lim, who owns a 50% stake in English non-league side Salford City, which is partly owned by Neville, his brother Phil and fellow former Manchester United teammates Paul Scholes, Nicky Butt and Ryan Giggs. Neville will also work alongside his brother Phil, who remains in his role as assistant manager at La Mestalla.
Neville has been presented with a massive opportunity at Valencia. This is the Spanish side that has arguably posed the biggest, most consistent challenge to the big two of Real Madrid and Barca over the last 20 years, producing world-class players like Gaizka Mendieta, David Albelda and Miguel Angel Angulo, and more recently David Silva, Isco and Juan Bernat. Just think where they could be now with that lot in the side.
The former Manchester United and England right-back comes to the club at a time when Valencia have plenty of promise, but just need a wise head to guide them towards glory. They have an exciting pool of talent in the current squad including Australia goalkeeper Mathew Ryan, who has performed miracles on several occasions this season in the absence of Diego Alves. In front of Ryan is a wealth of young, skilled footballers, such as fantastic 20-year-old left-back Jose Luis Gaya, Brazilian midfielder Danilo, lively wingers Santi Mina and Rodrigo de Paul, and of course Spain striker Paco Alcacer. The club has fantastic foundations in place, and it is now up to Neville to help these youngsters mature and progress as a team.
Valencia should be performing well beyond their current level of form, both in the league and the Champions League, but their story is indicative of any side that has the audacity to challenge Real and Barca. Their top players get noticed and poached by bigger, richer clubs and the club falls back down the league, then has to rebuild again and again as the process repeats itself.
Neville has to help these youngsters rediscover their form and then, assuming he is given the chance, ensure they stay with the club long-term. If they do, then Valencia could be on the verge of something really special.
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However, he could not wish for a tougher beginning to life at La Mestalla than face Barca, which is why he has wisely left that task to brother Phil this weekend. Barcelona are in top form, having won their last six matches in all competitions and with the deadly trio of Lionel Messi, Luis Suarez and Neymar all in rich goalscoring form. The new coach will not be judged on his side’s performance against the champions, but Spanish supporters are unlikely to allow him a long bedding in process – as David Moyes learnt to his cost earlier this season.
As a follower of Valencia from afar, one hopes Neville succeeds in his new role. He has a fantastic squad to work with, and Valencia is a great club that should be enjoying far greater success than it currently is. But to step into this club with no prior managerial experience is a seriously tough ask.
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