Valencia keeper Ryan’s busiest moments were those when he picked the ball from the back of the net after Barcelona ran riot to slot seven past the helpless Australian. PHOTO: REUTERS
Luis Suarez scored four and Lionel Messi added a hat-trick as Barca rendered next week’s second-leg meaningless.
Neville has yet to win in eight La Liga games since taking his first managerial role in December and with Valencia set to visit fellow strugglers Real Betis on Sunday.
Suarez, Messi hat-tricks hit Neville's Valencia for seven
“I wish the Betis game started in 10 minutes. It’s going to be a painful three or four days,” said Neville. “This was one of my most painful days in football. They happen, I had some as a player, now as a manager, but, when you give the ball away close to your own goal three times in first 15 minutes, you get punished.”
Neville refuted suggestions he may be considering resigning and refused to answer more questions when pressed on his future.
“Positivity has been immovable in my life,” said Neville. “I just feel for the fans. It’s their club and tonight they suffered very badly. I have to make sure tomorrow morning I have a team in for training and work out how we can get in a positive frame of mind on Sunday.”
Real's Cheryshev joins Valencia on loan
Valencia sporting director Jesus Garcia Pitarch described the match as ‘one of the worst’ and also apologised to the club’s notoriously demanding fan base.
“We apologise to our fans for one of the worst days and one of the worst results in our history in a Cup semi-final,” he told Canal Plus.
Published in The Express Tribune, February 5th, 2016.
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