International Journal of Advanced Sport Sciences Research

ASSR is an open access journal, aims at rapid publication of concise research papers of a broad interest in Physical education fields. Subject areas include all the current fields of interest represented by the Committees of the Design Scientific Renaissance. ASSR welcomes papers and articles in sport and physical education, fields of ASSR includes but not limited to: sport for all; Exercise physiology; Moths of training and coaching;Sport’s performance and analysis

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Valencia players abused by supporters chanting 'mercenaries'

by Marcia Cowart (2021-10-07)

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Under-pressure Valencia manager Gary Neville was greeted by angry supporters who labelled his team 'mercenaries' when returning home in the early hours following Wednesday's 7-0 defeat by Barcelona.

The La Liga club's as-good-as elimination from the Copa del Rey compounded the misery of going three months without a league win to leave Neville and his side facing a frosty welcome back in eastern Spain.

The former Manchester United right back, who was joined by brother and assistant Phil when leaving Valencia's Ciudad Deportiva de Paterna base, is refusing to resign despite fans' frustrations.

Valencia returned home to abuse from supporter after Gary Neville (top left) watched his side get thrashed 7-0 by Barcelona

Fans outside Valencia's Ciudad Deportiva de Paterna base chanted 'Jugadores, mercenarios!', meaning: 'Players, mercenaries!'

Phil and Gary Neville leave the training ground in the early hours of Thursday morning with some fans clearly showing their unhappiness

The Neville brothers have kept the backing of a significant section of supporters but some still greeted them with middle-finger salutes

Neville said the Barcelona defeat was 'one of my most painful nights in football' and frustration is growing with his side's performances


The rookie coach has avoided much of the flak for the performances of a team who had plenty of problems from his first day in charge.

But some supporters branded middle-finger salutes in the direction of the Neville brothers as they headed home in Phil's Land Rover.

The players on-board the team coach could hear chants of: 'Jugadores, mercenarios!', meaning: 'Players, mercenaries!' when they got back at 1am following a long night in Barcelona.

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Neville called the Nou Camp defeat 'one of my most painful nights in football' as any hopes of winning the Copa del Rey, this season's saving grace for Valencia, were extinguished.

Still, the 40-year-old maintains that he will not offer his resignation despite a tough start to his managerial career.

He now faces a rebuilding job for his demoralised side with a return to La Liga action away at Real Betis coming up on Sunday afternoon. The Barcelona defeat will linger in the memory. 

Luis Suarez soars in celebration as Lionel Messi and Neymar show their elation in the background on the way to Barcelona's 7-0 win

Messi scored a hat-trick, including his 500th career goal, and wasn't even the star of the show at the Nou Camp on Wednesday

Suarez (centre) struck four times for the rampant Barca as Valencia were left to ponder an impossible deficit at home in the second leg

The Neville brothers sat helplessly in the Nou Camp dugout as their side were torn to shreds by Barcelona's brilliant attackers

Neville looked dejected on the touchline as his side became one of many to be torn apart by a ravenous Barcelona at the Nou Camp

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