Neville: Managing Manchester United ‘not in my mind’

Gary Neville has ruled out a future move to become Manchester United manager, saying his only thoughts are on succeeding at current club Valencia.

Neville suffered defeat in his first match in charge of the club in Wednesday’s Champions League clash against Lyon at the Mestalla – and he insists he is ‘only thinking about Valencia’ despite the short-term nature of his contract.

[of_poll name=’Who will succeed Louis van Gaal as Manchester United manager?’ id=’727724′]

Asked if he plans to return to Old Trafford as manager in the future, Neville told Sky Sports: “No, I don’t see myself managing Manchester United at all. I know what I want to do in my life, and that’s not something that’s in my mind.

“From my point of view, this is important for me and a valuable experience. I’m aware I need to succeed. Succeeding for me would be knowing these players have improved dramatically.

“Results come and go, I know we’re in a results-driven business, but I have never looked at football like that since I’ve finished playing. I did when I was a player. As a part-owner, I think about moving forward in the next five, ten years.”

The scale of Neville’s challenge was evident in their Champions League elimination, with 10 players missing through injury and nine of the club’s starting 11 under the age of 22.

His side were committed in attack, but Neville admitted his young team need to learn when to be disciplined.

It’s something Neville is confident he can coach, though, and when asked how he would describe a Neville-managed club, the Valencia head coach said: “A front-foot team, one that pressurizes and wins the ball as high up the pitch as possible.

“One that plays quickly, with a high tempo. One that goes forward, but with a little bit more sense than we did against Lyon!

“But I’d prefer that be that way than with a group of older players that drop towards their own box. I can work with that, the intent is there to attack, to do the positives things. We can always come back, rather than thinking we’ve got to push them up the pitch, which is the hardest thing to do.

“There are some coaches who have a huge emphasis on possession. I have a huge emphasis on possession but I like to counter-attack as well. So I don’t say I’m a possession coach or counter-attack. I’m not a one-style coach.”