Gary Neville should apologise and resign, says Canizares

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Gary Neville 'won't sleep well' after Valencia's 7-0 defeat to Barcelona

Gary Neville should have apologised and resigned as Valencia coach after their humiliating Copa del Rey defeat, says former goalkeeper Santiago Canizares.

Valencia were thrashed 7-0 by Barcelona in a semi-final first leg on Wednesday.

Former Manchester United captain Neville described the loss as "one of his worst experiences" in football.

Canizares said:external-link "I expected the coach's resignation, as well as some apologies. I may be ignorant, but I'm surprised he hasn't. I thought he was honest."

Match report: Barcelona 7-0 Valencia
Neville: Loss is one of my worst moments

'One of the worst results in our history'

Santiago Canizares
Canizares played for Valencia when the club lost consecutive Champions League finals in 2000 and 2001

Neville is yet to win in the eight La Liga games he has been in charge, after being appointed as boss in December.

Soon after the match, #Nevilleveteya, which translates to Neville go now, was trending in Valencia on Twitter but sporting director Jesus Garcia Pitarch said it was "not the day to talk about the future".

He added: "This day you can't explain. We must apologise to fans for one of the worst results in our history."

Canizares, who played over 400 times for the club, winning two league titles and two cups, questioned the decision-making at the club.

"If Garcia Pitarch trusts in Gary as he said on Monday, I'm disappointed. If it's not like that, why did he say that?" he said.

"If (Garcia Pitarch) lied to us, and tomorrow he proposes the sacking of the coach and it's not accepted, it's best if (Garcia Pitarch) leaves as well.

"Worse than the loss, is giving up in the fight. We are facing a test of fire. To demand decisions is responsible, to give up isn't."

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703 comments

  • Comment posted by tonep, at 11:32 4 Feb 2016

    "9. Posted by Kirkhillman
    on
    5 minutes ago
    Just shows that performing is much more difficult than criticising the efforts of others from the comfort of a TV studio."

    ...or from behind keyboard on an anonymous blog....

  • Comment posted by Eavesey, at 11:22 4 Feb 2016

    Does every manager who gets thumped by Barcelona have to apologise or resign?

  • Comment posted by SummersIron, at 12:13 4 Feb 2016

    Gary Neville getting this job is a beacon of hope to us all. I now stand encouraged that I can get any job I want, with no experience, no qualifications and without even a basic grasp of the local tongue. Currently typing out my application for Prime Minister of Singapore.

  • Comment posted by XTStevie1872, at 11:20 4 Feb 2016

    And to think the English media had him as a future Man Utd & England manager after one drawn game at Valencia ??

    Deluded isn't the word...........

  • Comment posted by Grylls, at 11:16 4 Feb 2016

    Hopefully he will get the job at United in the summer?

  • Comment posted by 1LiverpoolFan, at 11:31 4 Feb 2016

    surely its the players that need to be apologising? as they are the ones that over 90 minutes didn't give the performance that they should have

  • Comment posted by U15704807, at 11:19 4 Feb 2016

    Just because you can play the game and pundit well on the game does NOT mean you can lead and manage a club. When will football learn this lesson? They are utterly different skill sets !!

  • Comment posted by U14260832, at 11:19 4 Feb 2016

    Watching his team they are individually poor. Maybe they are not playing for him although I've never understood that attitude. Or they are just rubbish in the league. He's obviously learning his craft at a high visibility club in Spain so perhaps he is out of his depth at the moment.

  • Comment posted by foreverengland, at 12:24 4 Feb 2016

    Fire Gary, hire Phil... for a laugh

  • Comment posted by Francis, at 12:28 4 Feb 2016

    Valencia shouldn't be anybody's first club as a Manager, not least a non-Spanish speaking Englishman. Salford City would have made more sense.

  • Comment posted by Hansons58, at 13:47 4 Feb 2016

    Bit early to criticise. They're only half way through the tie.

    When Valencia win the second leg 8-0 and go through, some people on here are going to look pretty silly.

  • Comment posted by pmac2k13, at 12:57 4 Feb 2016

    You see teams go the Nou Camp and get beat, 5, 6, 7-0. Barca are a good side, well they're a great side. But if I was involved with a team who got beat 7-0 there I wouldn't be able to look my family in the eye anymore"

    Gary Neville quote from 14/04/2015

  • Comment posted by Peter_London, at 11:58 4 Feb 2016

    I think Neville should resign and succeed LVG as Man Utd's next successful manager, as a Liverpool fan I hate to see them struggling.

  • Comment posted by RedDevil86, at 11:28 4 Feb 2016

    People need to get some perspective. He didn't needlessly slate teams/managers as a pundit. He analysed games (well) and yes criticised when he had too. That's part of the job is it not?
    Also it's not uncommon for Barca to spank teams in La Liga. This is a poor Valencia team who were also had to play 45 mins with a man down! Why are people not slating the player who stupidly got himself sent off?

  • Comment posted by WillyB, at 11:20 4 Feb 2016

    Poor old Gary. He's a bit rubbish really. Let's be honest, nobody really thought this would be a success? Imagine the pep talks at half time... Like being inspired by John Major's nan while she's still a bit snoozy.... Bless.

  • Comment posted by nuts, at 12:12 4 Feb 2016

    And people think Ryan Giggs will be a success as United manager!!!!

  • Comment posted by Blokedownthepub, at 11:30 4 Feb 2016

    Lets give the job to the "Knownothing " BBC spots writer.

  • Comment posted by U16115807, at 11:33 4 Feb 2016

    I give him credit for stepping up where many other pundits have not

    But it seems he has been found out!

    Perhaps he should be looking to actually learn the job first rather than expecting miracles on the coat tails of his rich friends?

  • Comment posted by charlessy, at 12:12 4 Feb 2016

    As Gary Neville amongst others have found out its easy to criticise from the TV studio but its actually a very difficult job.

    When you see the likes of Carragher, Neville, Shearer, Henry etc on the telly criticising the tactics of Mourinho, Wenger, Pellegrini, LVG etc.

    These pundits themselves couldn't do a better job than the managers they criticise.

  • Comment posted by Outdated View - but telling it like it is, at 13:35 4 Feb 2016

    @267. those_filthy_cheating_devils

    "What exactly are Nevilles credentials? Former big mouth TV pundit and 200 hours on Football Manger 2011 ?"

    -

    UEFA A Coaching Licence.

    UEFA B Coaching Licence.

    Assistant Manager of a national team.

    Proven success as a player, learnt from Ferguson.

    Generally been involved in the game all his life.

    Now let's look at YOUR credentials, fool.

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