From Yahoo Sport
Sacked Del Neri claims Porto afraid of change
Wed 18 Aug, 11:18 AM
LISBON (AFP) - Luigi Del Neri, sacked as FC Porto manager just two months after his appointment, claims he was shown the door because the Champions League winners were afraid of change.
The ex coach of Italian Serie A side Chievo was hired to replace Jose Mourinho in June but he barely had time to familiarise himself with his new surroundings before he was looking for a new job.
And the 53-year-old suggested fear of the unknown was behind his dismissal.
"I believe after the excellent results achieved over the past two years the club directors were afraid of change," Del Neri said.
He defended his intention to introduce a shake-up at Porto, saying that was the only course of action open to him after the departure of a host of key players and the arrival of a new manager.
"It was logical to suggest a new strategy of play. That's what I proposed to do but I wasn't given the chance to carry it out," the Italian said.
Portuguese champions Porto said they got rid of Del Neri and his training staff after an eight week trial period because of his "totally unsuitable training and tactical system".
But Del Neri, in comments reported in the Portuguese media on Wednesday, took issue with his former employers' explanation.
"What they say doesn't seem clear or consistent because I don't believe you can judge the work of a manager after such a short time."
He also described as "absurd" the suggestion that he had lost the confidence of his players.
"I've tried to come up with a theory, a valid reason for my dismissal, but I still can't find one," he added.
Porto were quick to find a replacement in Real Betis coach Victor Fernandez.