La Liga News: Gary Neville Will Not Step Down After 7-0 Loss to FC Barcelona
Barcelona totally outclassed Valencia on Wednesday in the first leg of their Copa del Rey semifinal matchup with a 7-0 win. Valencia manager Gary Neville, who was appointed last December, has no plans of stepping down, per ESPN FC.
The media asked Neville if he was going to resign as Valencia's manager after the game, considering that he has not won a single La Liga game since taking over Los Che. The former Manchester United right back responded by just saying "No" and "Next question," but he admitted that the loss is one of the most painful moments he has ever experienced.
"The fans do not deserve this. I did not like what I saw. It was one of the most painful experiences I've had in football. When you give the ball away like that to three of the best forward players in the world, it's impossible," Neville said.
"I feel most for the fans. It's their club, and tonight they suffer very badly," the manager added. Luis Suarez scored four goals while Lionel Messi bagged a hat-trick in the 7-0 Barcelona blowout with Neymar missing a penalty.
In a report by The Sun, many Valencia fans and former players are calling for the 40-year-old manager’s firing. Los Che legend David Albelda insisted that the club should sack Neville and replace him with former Real Madrid coach Rafa Benitez.
Valencia’s sporting director Jesus Garcia Pitarch is now pressured to make a decision regarding Neville’s future as the club has not won since he took over and just five points above relegation. “We apologize to our fans for one of the worst days and one of the worst results in our history in a Cup semi-final,” Pitarch said via The Mirror.
The sporting director added that he had a meeting with chairwoman Lay Hoon and another executive after the game but did not give any answers if the club will sack Neville.
“We have had a meeting to see what our reflections were on the game. We know what we have to do. We know the situation the club is in is difficult. We have to reflect internally whilst recognizing we have caused tremendous disappointment to our fans,” Pitarch remarked.
According to The Independent, soon-to-be ex-Manchester City manager Manuel Pellegrini is poised to replace Neville at Mestalla Stadium. His agent claims that Pellegrini loves the atmosphere in Spain as he previously managed Villareal from 2004 to 2009 and Málaga from 2010 to 2013.
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