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14th Feb 2016

Gary Neville gets his first La Liga win, but is Rafa Benitez being readied to replace him?

JOE

Finally, Gary Neville earned his first La Liga victory in charge of Valencia.

But while some might think the vital 2-1 victory over Espanyol might have been enough to relieve some of the pressure on Neville, a new appointment at the Mestalla might suggest that he may be on borrowed time.

The former Manchester United captain announced after the game that Pako Ayestaran, the former Liverpool assistant, will be joining the coaching staff at Valencia from Monday.

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Some have suggested that the new man’s arrival will pave the way for the return of Rafa Benitez, although Neville insisted his appointment was not to replace any of the existing staff.

Benitez managed Valencia before his time at Anfield, where Ayestaran worked alongside him.