Gary Neville admits knowing Peter Lim is an advantage at Valencia

Valencia coach Gary Neville has confessed that being on personal terms with club owner Peter Lim is an advantage on the eve of his side facing Real Madrid.

The former Manchester United captain was installed at the helm of the Mestalla club last month by the Singaporean, who is also a joint business partner at Salford City.

Lim has constantly reiterated that Neville had been appointed based on merit and not friendship.

And though the latter did not disagree, he did admit that being on talking terms with the owner did come with the advantage of maintaining a dialogue.

"It is uncertain, but it would be if I were given a five-year contract," Neville told Sky Sports regarding his six-month contract to lead the team.

"I'm quite relaxed about it. It's a club that's had 15 managers in 14 years, they've had turmoil after turmoil with managers.

"A six-month contract doesn't mean you're out of a job in six months. The fact that I know the owners, I can have an honest conversation with them is a good thing. That's what made it attractive: it's a big club, but I know the owners.

"Even though it's a risk, I think it'd be a bigger risk not doing it, looking back and thinking did I miss the chance to go and coach in this league."

The 40-year-old has so far endured a difficult spell in charge, failing to win a single La Liga match in charge and slumping to his first league defeat against Villarreal on Thursday that left los Che languishing 11th in the table.

And Neville has come out to acknowledge the language barrier has made dressing-room discussions difficult, as the necessity of a translator means he cannot inspire the reaction he wants from his players.

"The most frustrating thing, without a shadow of a doubt, is having to communicate through a translator," he continued.

"The [pre-match] team talk is well prepared, so it's fine, but half-time is frustrating. You want people to react off you and it can't happen.

"I'm trying to make sure I speak to every player equally and not just more to the ones who speak English."