Chelsea: Jose Mourinho dismisses speculation that he could succeed Gary Neville at Valencia

Chelsea manager Jose Mourinho has dismissed recent speculation suggesting he could be set for a future move to Valencia. The La Liga club only named Gary Neville as their new boss earlier in December, handing the England coach and respected pundit a six-month contract to succeed Nuno Espirito Santo until the end of the 2015-16 season.

However, despite that appointment and the new man's obvious enthusiasm, subsequent reports from publications such as The Sun claimed owner Peter Lim, who is associated with Neville through their ownership of English non-league club Salford City, was targeting Mourinho to eventually take over at the Mestalla in the longer term. Lim is known to be friends with his agent Jorge Mendes, although it remains to be seen how their relationship may have been impacted by the departure of another client in Nuno.

Asked about those rumours at a press conference held prior to Chelsea's Premier League match against Bournemouth, he was quoted as saying by The Telegraph: "I don't speak about Valencia. There has been no contact, especially because their owner knows I don't want to leave."

Neville faces something of a daunting task in Spain as he bids to appease a passionate fan base who are eager to see Valencia return to prominence. Following their 1-0 defeat to Sevilla on 29 November, Los Che currently lie ninth in La Liga and 14 points adrift of leaders Barcelona ahead of their meeting on 5 December. Neville is scheduled to officially take the reins before the Champions League visit of Lyon and Mourinho believes he will have to prove his managerial nous.

He said: "I wish him well. There is always a first day for a manager, if he wants to be a manager he has to go through a first day. He is a very good player, a very good pundit, now he has to prove he is a good manager. On the bench you cannot stop the tape or touch the screen and make movements good."