'Unbreakable' Valencia coach Gary Neville has 'no plans to resign'

Gary Neville has responded to the intense speculation swirling around his position as Valencia coach ahead of the visit of European champions Barcelona by telling his critics: "I'm unbreakable".

Neville is under severe pressure from his club's fans having failed to win any of his nine league matches since succeeding Nuno Espirito Santo as coach in early December, but according to Spanish media reports, the Englishman says he has no plans to resign.

Valencia are playing for no more than pride in the second leg of the Copa del Rey semi-finals against Luis Enrique's Barcelona side after suffering a 7-0 beating at the Camp Nou last week.

Neville's team are also on the slide in Spain's La Liga, and could be heading for their worst season in 30 years since suffering relegation in 1986.

The 1-0 loss to Real Betis on Sunday was a fourth defeat in nine matches, an outcome that leaves the former Spanish champions only four points above the relegation spots.

"I believe Valencia will come back," said Neville at his pre-match press conference on Tuesday. "I prefer to focus on that.

"I want to give them (the fans) what they want."

"I'm determined, I'm positive. I'm unbreakable in that respect, but at this moment in time the results are obviously testing."

"Confidence is low. Last season this team got 77 points because confidence was high," he pointed out.

Valencia would be bottom of the Liga standings if they had started the season with Neville as coach, but the club's owner Peter Lim - a friend and business partner of the England assistant head coach - has so far refused to bow to pressure from fans to sack Neville.

“This is my 30th press conference in 60 days," said Neville. "We’re almost on a loop. When you ask me the same things, I don’t think the fans want to hear it,” he is quoted as telling AS.

“Even I’m tired of hearing myself talk. All we can do is win games. I want to focus only on football. Maybe that’s not what you want to ask, but I’ll only answer questions about football.

“Resign? That’s not in my plans," he is quoted as saying. "I’m desperate to turn around the situation. Football is sometimes a cruel sport. Sometimes you don’t deserve anything and just get a draw.

"I’m determined to go onto the streets of Valencia, look them in the eye and give them what they want. "

"They travel, they pay to be in Mestalla and that is what decides if they have a happy week or not.

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