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Valencia coach Nuno Espirito Santo says him being named La Liga's Coach of the Month for September was down to the work being done by his players, while he expects Peter Lim's drawn-out takeover of the club to soon go through. Nuno was a surprise appointment as Los Che boss in the summer, with his arrival widely seen as a sign of the power being already wielded at the Mestalla by Lim and Portuguese agent Jorge Mendes. The former Rio Ave coach has impressed hugely so far, with his side still unbeaten and sitting second in La Liga following Saturday's 3-1 win over reigning champions Atletico Madrid, and recognition coming via the league's official monthly award. The ex-goalkeeper told El Larguero that such good results on the pitch -- five wins and two draws so far -- had helped both players and fans to trust in his ideas for the team. "I see this as recognition for the work we are doing, the work of the players," Nuno said. "My words of thanks are for those who play, who win the games, and fulfill the tasks I believe are best for the team. It is a prize for the team, the technical staff, everyone. "From the day I started, we looked to build our squad. I believed we could do good work, with clear ideas of how to play. We have achieved that quickly, with a very young squad. Their acceptance of our proposal has been very good. We have been fortunate that our results have gone well, and we now have an idea of play." While he has known Lim for many years, Nuno said the decision to fire former boss Juan Antonio Pizzi and appoint him as coach last summer had been taken by club president Amadeo Salvo. "I knew Peter Lim before becoming a coach, I had met him at various football games, European finals," he said. "We had a normal relationship, of friendship and respect. Then I began to coach at Rio Ave, and spent two years there. "When the opportunity arose to come to Valencia, yes Peter Lim proposed the idea, but in the end the person who signed me was president Amadeo Salvo. It is not a secret to anyone. Lim offered his advice, I will not hide that." Lim's takeover of Valencia remains deadlocked amid reports that publicly-owned lender Bankia, who must agree to any sale due to the club's 300 million euro-plus debts, are worried about potential "asset-stripping" of players to the third-party investment fund controlled by Lim and Mendes. Nuno, though, has no such worries and claimed the deal, first proposed last December, will soon be finalised. "It is close, the process will be completed, because I believe that together Valencia Football Club and Peter Lim will be stronger," he said. "Peter is very passionate about football. He likes Valencia, the idea of being Valencia's owner. He is in contact with Salvo. "They both have an idea for a much more global project. When I talk to Peter I tell him what we have -- a young squad, the basis for a sustainable club with hunger to win things. Because Peter is a winner."
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