Gary Neville can be a success at Valencia despite having no playing or coaching experience in Spain, Watford manager Quique Sanchez Flores has said.
Neville, the former Manchester United and England defender, will be officially unveiled as the new head coach of Valencia on Thursday after agreeing to take charge of the La Liga outfit until the end of the season.
The surprise appointment marks Neville's first foray into management after Valencia parted company with Nuno Espirito Santo following Sunday's 1-0 defeat to Sevilla.
Flores enjoyed 10 years at the Mestalla as a player before taking charge of the club in 2005 and leading them to third in La Liga and a quarter-final spot in the Champions League in the subsequent season. He was sacked in 2007 after a string of poor results.
Speaking ahead of his side's Barclays Premier League clash against Norwich on Saturday, Flores said: "It's not about nationality. It's about knowledge, it's about the attitude and how you manage and lead, not if you've played there before as a player.
"It's about how you're able to manage a team. If you can, you can manage the young ones, the middle and the top level.
"It's possible to adapt. The culture is part of the world of football we're living in. Everyone is going for different cultures, different continents. People go to work in other countries, plan to go to Australia or coach in the UAE, USA, England... Coaches move, players move.
"It is a new culture. Years ago people stayed in their country and never moved - it is completely different. Everyone is moving. We're living in these kind of times."
Valencia are ninth in La Liga and Neville's first game in charge is their must-win Champions League clash against Lyon on Wednesday.
Flores, who played almost 300 times for the Mestalla club, added: "I love Valencia. I grew in Valencia. For me, it's very important that they recuperate their ambition, their level and that the fans are completely happy.
"In this case I hope that Gary is able to recuperate the harmony between fans and the club, results and that they can improve a lot."
Watford host Norwich on Saturday with goalkeeper Heurelho Gomes a doubt after he sustained a neck injury in his side's 3-2 win over Aston Villa.
Gomes was taken off on a stretcher and a neck brace before being given the all-clear following a hospital scan.
"At the moment he is recuperating and he is better, but we have to wait until the last moment," said Flores on whether his number one will feature against the Canaries.
"He wants to play and he wants to come back as quickly as possible, but we will wait until the opinion of the medical staff."
Source: PA
