Gary Neville: Watch Valencia manager's most recent interview on pressure, politics and Jeremy Corbyn

Neville was surprisingly named Valencia manager

Tom Sheen
Thursday 03 December 2015 03:57 EST
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(Getty Images)

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An interview with Gary Neville that took place over the weekend appears to show that the former Manchester United defender didn't have any idea he'd be Valencia manager today.

Neville, 40, was the surprise appointment for the vacant La Liga job, joining his brother Phil who is the first-team assistant.

Valencia are majority-owned by majority shareholder Peter Lim, a Singaporean billionaire and friend of the Class of 92.

However, speaking on Saturday in an interview with YouTube channel Copa90 football, in which Neville talks politics and pressure, Neville gives no hint that this appointment is just round the corner.

"Pressure isn't what I'm doing at this moment in time, speaking about football on television," says Neville.

"That's not pressure, I wouldn't even begin to think it's pressure.

"Pressure is knowing where your next wages are going to come from so you can feed your family, feed your kids, that's pressure. That horrible feeling that you can't get your kids a Christmas present at this time of year.

"I don't like that part of society. I don't like the fact that you can walk through Manchester living on the streets. I don't like the fact that there are people struggling."

Neville and business partner and former team-mate Ryan Giggs received widespread praise after allowing a group of homeless people to stay in Manchester's Stock Exchange, a building they intend to develop, over the winter.

The Valencia manager, who will continue in his role as England assistant but has left Sky Sports, was also asked whether he likes embattled Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn.

"I like people who believe in their principles and stick to them," he told Copa90. "So yes. he knows what he wants, he sticks to it, he doesn't give a care to what other people think.

"Are we ready for that? I dont think the country will elect him. But at this moment in time he's also got a lot of synergy with people as well. I can totally sympathise with it and understand it completely."

Neville was talking at on behalf of football charity Football Beyond Borders

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