Hernan Crespo 'almost happy' to watch Neville's struggles at Valencia

Retired Argentina great turned Modena boss Hernan Crespo appears to be revelling in Gary Neville's failings at Valencia, admitting he is "almost happy" to witness his stuttering transition from punditry to management.

Neville took the helm at the Mestalla in December after picking apart Premier League games for Sky Sports, but under his management Los Che have sunk from being five points adrift of European qualification to sitting just four points above the La Liga drop zone. He is yet to pick up his first league win as a gaffer.

"To watch a game from the TV, it's very different than from the bench," Crespo said to Fox Sports. "I'm almost happy for Gary Neville's troubles at Valencia. I remember he was too harsh as a TV pundit."

Crespo was a former adversary of ex-Manchester United skipper Neville in the Premier League during his time at Chelsea, and will feel he earned his job in the Serie B after coaching former club Parma's youth team in 2014-15. In his debut season as a first-team manager, Modena is struggling in 19th and faces an important trip to fellow struggler Virtus Lanciano on Saturday.

Crespo - who became the world's most expensive player in 2000 when he joined Parma from Lazio for £35.5 million - also took time to lavish praise on Claudio Ranieri, who is currently overseeing Leicester City's unexpected title charge in the Premier League and for whom Crespo played under at Stamford Bridge between 2003 and 2004.

"When he trained me, he had to change everything because so many new players had arrived at Chelsea that he had to integrate into the team," Crespo said.

"He was unfortunate because we finished second in the league and were eliminated at the semifinal stage of the Champions League.

"Ranieri with Leicester is doing an incredible job on a mental level. The players are playing with maximum organisation, making the most of their movements."

Leicester continues its incredible push for domestic honours at Arsenal on Sunday.