Ex-Liverpool assistant slams his sacking by European giants, saying it is “not fair”

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Pako Ayestaran’s spell in charge of the most hectic club in European football went about as well as anyone expected.

Former Liverpool assistant Pako Ayestaran is adamant that his sacking by Valencia is “not fair”, according to the Liverpool Echo.

The 53-year-old joined the Spanish giants as an assistant to Gary Neville (below) during his doomed spell in charge before being promoted to the top job towards the end of last season.

However, after losing each of his four La Liga games in 2016/17, constituting the joint-worst start to a season in the Valencia’s history, Ayestaran became the seventh manager to be sacked by the club in less than four years.

And the highly-rated coach, who won the Champions League with Liverpool alongside Rafael Benitez in 2005, believes Valencia’s management have made a mistake in showing him the door so early in to the campaign.

“I believe in myself, I had total belief to move this situation forward,” he said, as reported by the Liverpool Echo. “The decision to dismiss me is not fair.

“I feel strong enough to have been able to reverse the situation, but the club has not considered this the case. They will have their reasons.

“I’m very disappointed, I have to analyse what my mistakes were so as not to repeat them.”

The political infighting enveloping the club meant it always felt unlikely that a man with next to no top level managerial experience would be able to survive in the shark-infested waters at Valencia.

Yet, Pako was certainly not helped by the sales of key trio Shkodran Mustafi, Andre Gomes and Paco Alcacer (below) late in the transfer window, leaving his squad unbalanced and desperately short of quality.

Despite leaving Liverpool nine years ago, the Spaniard still has a great affinity with the club, admitting to the Daily Mail that he still keeps in contact with the likes of Steven Gerrard and Jamie Carragher.

However, his relationship with Rafa Benitez (below) turned sour when the current Newcastle manager accused Ayestaran of entering negotiations with other clubs behind his back despite the coach emphatically turning down the chance to assist Avram Grant at Chelsea, the Mail report.

It remains to be seen whether Ayestaran decided to move back to England, having lived in Merseyside for many years after his departure from Liverpool.