Ricardo La Volpe, ousted on Wednesday as Chivas coach after team owner Jorge Vergara accused him of "inappropriate conduct" toward a female staff member at the club, refuted the allegations and insinuated that Vergara was out to get him.
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caption:Ricardo La Volpe was fired after four games in charge of Chivas.
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• Marshall: La Volpe fires back
"They are making things up and another rumor, that the podologist (team foot hygienist) gives massages. A podologist? Nails and feet, massages no," La Volpe said, adding that the woman in question was giving the players knee massages. "In my own way of correcting it, I went to see her and confirmed she did give massages -- not where you are thinking, which is nonsense -- but to the knees of the players. I saw she was using arnica ointment ... and I said it wasn't permitted. The complaint ended there and I left. I want to hear from the young woman and I want to see her complaint."
Vergara, however, insisted on Friday that La Volpe presented himself to the young woman wearing only a towel.
"Why would he dress like that to investigate whether she gave massages to the feet?" Vergara told ESPN. "This is a young woman who has been with us for years and the players are very happy with their feet."
The Argentine manager called the incident "the worst moment of my life" and said there was no "chemistry" between himself and owner Vergara. He also said that the team announced his signing before giving him a contract and insinuated that he was pressured into cutting a different deal than that which was previously agreed-upon.
"I reached an agreement after reaching an economic agreement with (club president Juan Manuel) Herrero and Vergara, I should have left at that moment," La Volpe said. "It was the first time this happened to me and I should have said something."
La Volpe said he spoke to his players at practice.
"There were rumours that I had to be careful because there are two players who were communicating with (Vergara's wife and club co-owner) Angelica (Fuentes). That is no good. I don't work that way. And I can confirm it, those two players wouldn't stay, not one minute," he said.
The move means the Guadalajara club is once again on the look out for a coach, a process sporting director Francisco "Paco" Palencia said is already underway.
The transfer strategy going into what is likely to be a vital window will have to be re-analyzed and the players will once again have to come to terms with a change of tactical style.
The news comes with Chivas just three points ahead of Puebla in the relegation table ahead of the Apertura 2014 and after Vergara guaranteed La Volpe's continuity in an interview with ESPN on Monday.
The obvious choices to replace him would be Jose Manuel "Chepo" de la Torre, who took Chivas to their last title in the Apertura 2006, and Monterrey legend Victor Manuel Vucetich, who hasn't taken a job since being dismissed from the Mexican national team after just two matches.
Both of the high caliber candidates may have serious concerns about the way the club is being run, the lack of time coaches are given at Chivas and the standard of the current playing squad, although Vergara said Monday that six new signings will be brought into the club this offseason.
La Volpe was Chivas' 16th coach in 11 years and was returning to Chivas after coaching during the 1989-1990 season, when he had a 2-5-7 record.