New Valencia boss Cesare Prandelli has revealed that he is looking forward to taking on the challenge of managing Los Che, who are currently in the relegation zone in La Liga.

The Spanish giants relieved Pako Ayestaran of his duties towards the end of last month after a disastrous start to the 2016-17 campaign.

Prandelli has since taken control of first-team affairs, and the former Italy boss has called Valencia "a long-term project" as he bids to return the club to former glories.

"I chose to come to Valencia because it is a very interesting project and based on the club's mentality, I had to say yes. I am optimistic because the team is very good technically and has lots of room for improvement, I want to improve the side and this is a long-term project," Prandelli told reporters.

"My first objective is to find the balance that is currently missing from the team and to give the players a team spirit and to think as a team and not as individuals. We cannot live in a fantasy reality of how good we are, but we must make the best of the players that we have.

"We have a long-term target of returning to the Champions League. I want to transmit values of this club, its great success, the mentality as I said before of Valencia."

Prandelli, 59, has previously managed Lecce, Verona, Venezia, Parma, Roma, Fiorentina and Galatasaray at club level.