Aston Villa defender Jordan Amavi has admitted that he was saddened and stunned to see Roberto Di Matteo sacked as manager on Monday.
The Italian, who joined the Villans over the summer following their relegation from the Premier League, paid the price for a poor start to the season which saw the side win just one of their opening 11 fixtures.
Amavi, 22, failed to feature for the majority of last season after suffering an ACL tear in his right knee, but had become Di Matteo's first choice at left-back in recent weeks before the axe fell.
"I didn't see it coming," Amavi told France Football. "However, we know how it is when a team doesn't produce results, the manager is targeted.
"Personally, I think he's a very good manager. When I was still on holiday, he called me to let me know he had faith in me, that he wanted me in the team.
"It's a shame, that's how it happens. The club doesn't have the time, the board want results in order to climb back up the table."
Former Birmingham City manager Steve Bruce remains the bookies' favourite to replace Di Matteo in the Villa Park hotseat.
Neil Wilkes
