Tottenham goalkeeper Brad Friedel has insisted that none of the club's players were happy to see Andre Villas-Boas sacked.
The 36 year-old was dismissed on Monday after a 5-0 home defeat to Liverpool at the weekend. But despite suggestions that relations between club figures and the Portuguese boss had deteriorated beyond repair, Friedel said Villas-Boas had the players' backing.
"I think all the players in the changing room really wanted things to work out for Andre," Friedel (above) told FOX Soccer Daily.
"From day one that he came to the club, he had an open door policy, very good communication with the players. None of us were happy to see him go.
"We still have to continue to have a very good team spirit, which I know we will.
"We have a lot of quality in the changing room. I'm sure the board are going to be hiring a very good manager to take us forward, who the players will all be behind again, because, at the end of the day, we are employed by Tottenham Hotspur Football Club, not by the manager they're bringing in.
"We just have to try to adhere to all of his ideas and try to get results for the football club."
Interim manager Tim Sherwood takes charge for the first time in tonight's Capital One quarter-final against West Ham.
