Ron Gourlay, CEO of Valencia CF, entrusts his plan to Carlos Corberán: "Last year we were in survival mode, this year is different."

Ron Gourlay, Valencia CF's football CEO, the man chosen by Peter Lim to prevent a repeat of the sporting embarrassment of recent seasons, held his first press conference a month after taking office to explain that the owner has asked him for "a long-term project." The 62-year-old Scotsman with experience at clubs such as Manchester United and Chelsea, spoke at length during an appearance as long as a football match, translated and translated. He had time to greet everyone—"Good afternoon. Hello, everyone"—to unscrew the cap from his water bottle, and to make it clear that, beyond the reinforcements—the team made six signings and two contract renewals this summer—two of the pillars of the project he leads are Carlos Corberán, whom he knows and admires as a coach—he signed him for West Bromwich and the result was excellent—and the young players. "They are always the ones who guarantee you a future," he said.

Valencia is torn between contempt for the club's ownership for allowing the team to deteriorate with minimal investment—it's been six seasons since they've played in Europe—and the perennial feeling that Lim will sell his stake at any moment. But Gourlay has arrived to calm things down, demand faith from all levels, and assure everyone at the club that the goal is to return the team to the elite in the next two or three years. "This club has a very bright future ahead. I hope to contribute my experience in many countries. I am a very responsible person, and we have to regain our energy and use it positively because together we can return this club to where it deserves."

Gourlay was a child who became interested in football by going to Dundee's pitch with his uncle. He then had a modest amount of experience as a semi-professional footballer until a knee injury sent him to the offices, first as an agent and then as a manager. A few months ago, when he received the offer from Lim, the Singaporean businessman who bought Valencia in 2014, he asked himself a question. "I questioned why I had to come, and I thought, firstly, because of the project; I think this is a project for the future; secondly, because of the stadium; all clubs have modern stadiums—Valencia is still building theirs—and thirdly, because of Carlos Corberán . I've worked with him in the past, I know his passion for work, his integrity, and he's a person capable of getting the most out of players. We have to give him resources, but we need someone who can get the most out of them. This is a long-term project, and you can't do everything in one year."

The new football CEO, who has been in the business for 35 years, asked fans and the press to have faith in the project. “We have to believe we can turn this situation around. I've been following the club and have seen the change under Corberán. It was a difficult situation, and he's turned it around. Now we have the foundations to start building,” added Gourlay, who explained that he met Lim 20 years ago, when he was at Manchester United, but it wasn't until a few months ago that he spoke more deeply with him in Singapore. The Scotsman made a great effort to convey optimism despite being surrounded by a pessimistic mood. “Last year we were in survival mode, but this year is different.”

Gourlay, perhaps to support his statement, recalled that he has won two Champions League titles on two different continents, and that, although in football there are no guarantees, you have to believe in the club's future. "We have a plan. I have a plan. We have to activate it. We wanted to see our strengths and weaknesses, and we've signed in key positions based on the weaknesses we've seen in recent seasons." The CEO is eyeing Europe, a key status for continued growth. "The more successes we have, the more resources we can reinvest back into our structures."