Gary Neville hints at Valencia exit after Europa League elimination
Friday 18 March 2016 10:21, UK
Gary Neville plunged his future as Valencia manager into doubt after suggesting he could leave the club at the end of his contract.
The former England and Manchester United defender's tenure at the Mestalla has been fraught with indifferent results after his unexpected appointment in December.
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Los Che suffered another setback on Thursday night as they were dumped out of the Europa League by Athletic Bilbao on away goals, with Neville sent off for protesting about an alleged handball in the build up to Aritz Aduriz's decisive strike.
Elimination effectively ends Valencia's season, with Neville's 12th-placed side out of contention to qualify for Europe via La Liga.
And, having been handed the reins at the Mestalla until the end of the season following Nuno Espirito Santo's departure in November, Neville has revealed he is not thinking beyond his current contract.
"I'm only thinking about the nine games," Neville told his post-match conference. "That's all I want to think about.
"That's all I should think about. I was hired for five months. That has always been the agreement. I'm not closing the door but we all know the contract that I was given. I will make sure that I give everything.
"I have come to love this club and to love the city. I have never seen such passionate fans; they are a proud bunch and I just imagine what they would be like if the results were better."
If Neville and Valencia are to go their separate ways at the end of the season, there are nine games remaining for both club and manager to try and end what has been a turbulent campaign on a high.
Having seen his side dumped out of the Champions League in his first game in charge, it took Neville 10 games to secure a maiden Primera Division victory.
Asked if he felt he had been unlucky in his three months at Valencia, Neville added: "You do need a bit of luck in football.
"I can think of many matches we've played where if we'd have taken the chances we would have won.
The players have taken it upon themselves to respond and we have to do the fans proud in the nine games left.
"I can always look at that but from my point of view I knew I was here for five months. No manager comes to a club in a good moment, usually it's at a difficult moment.
"Results are not what they should be for this club and that's something I'm very aware of. I've seen the best performance since I've been here in this game.
"The players have taken it upon themselves to respond and we have to do the fans proud in the nine games left.
"We had words on Sunday after the defeat [1-0 to bottom club Levante] but there is a respect between us."
