Thousands of Valencia fans greet Gary Neville at training

Gary Neville took his first training session at Valencia ahead of their must-win Champions League tie at home to Lyon and was greeted by thousands of fans.

Neville waved to the crowd packing the stands at the training ground before he and his brother Phil, the club’s assistant manager, put the players through their paces.

“Thousands of Valencian supporters wanted to welcome @GNev2,” the club tweeted.

Neville, who has been appointed head coach until the end of the season, will be in charge for the first time on Wednesday, having watched from the stands as Valencia drew 1-1 with Barcelona at the weekend under the stewardship of Phil and the co-coach Salvador Voro.

Valencia are third in their Champions League group and need a victory to overtake second-placed Gent in the final week of matches. Gent, meanwhile, can guarantee their qualification by beating the group winners Zenit St Petersburg at home.

On the domestic front Valencia lie eighth in La Liga and visit ninth-placed Eibar, who are level on points, on Sunday.

Neville will live permanently in Valencia from now on and is making learning Spanish his priority. His daughters and his wife are to join him at the end of the autumn term as he seeks to immerse himself in the Spanish culture.

(Guardian Sport)