New Valencia coach Ernesto Valverde will be in charge for tonight's Champions League clash with Lille.

The 48-year-old immediately set his sights on qualifying for the Champions League again but finds himself in an unusual position.

He told valenciacf.com: "This is the first time that I've taken charge of a team in the middle of the season. It is definitely not going to be an easy task and never is when a manager joins a team under these circumstances.

"I don't want people to take me saying that there is a problem as an attack on anyone. I think that would be showing a lack of respect to the previous manager and I don't want to do that. I respect him immensely.

"There is a good squad here, capable of doing good things. I will try to transmit the idea of Valencia that I have to the players and the possibilities that they have.

"Our aim is to get into the Champions League and that continues to be so."