Valencia

Claudio Ranieri warns Valencia coach Gary Neville over 'boring' Spanish football

By Shane Callaghan, Reporter | 04 December 2015

Leicester boss Claudio Ranieri says that Gary Neville will experience a culture shock when he begins his adventure in Spanish football as Valencia coach.

Claudio Ranieri has warned newly-appointed Valencia boss Gary Neville that he is in for a culture shock ahead of his stint in 'boring' Spanish football.

The ex-Manchester United right-back turned Sky Sports News pundit was appointed as Nuno Espirito Santo's successor at Los Che on Wednesday in a move which stunned the sport, having never managed a team before.

Ranieri - who has had two spells in charge at the Mestalla - says that football in Spain is much more possession-based and believes that the 40-year-old will need to uproot that philosophy in order to succeed.

"Every country has a different mentality. When I was there, I said, 'Keep possession of the ball'. [But] After half an hour of the training session I said, 'Stop! Our goal is there. The opponent's goal is there. Please attack, because I am sleeping," the Leicester City manager is quoted as saying by The Mirror.

"In Spain, the football is different. They want to manage the ball and keep possession. They like when the team keeps possession, because they believe if they do that they'll win the match.

"With me, there was a good discussion because every time I said, 'OK, you take the ball for 60% and shoot at goal for three times and cross the ball eight times. In my 40%, I shoot at goal eight times and make 10 crosses.'"

Neville, who is also part of Roy Hodgson's England staff, will continue this role during Euro 2016 next summer. His brother Phil was already among the backroom staff at Valencia.