VALENCIA - Quique Sanchez Flores believes he can leave Valencia with his "head held very high" after he was dismissed by the Primera Liga outfit on Monday.
The Valencia board took the decision to release their coach following a meeting on Sunday night, just hours after the team's 3-0 Primera Liga defeat at Sevilla.
Speaking at a press conference on Monday, 42-year-old Sanchez Flores declared his belief that Valencia had been on target to achieve their objectives for the season under his guidance, but added that in many ways his dismissal had come as a relief.
"I am going convinced that we were prepared to achieve our objectives, but we will accept the decision with goodwill if it is the solution for Valencia," he said.
"I leave with my head held very high, like all good Valencianistas, wishing Valencia the best for the future.
"I have a slight feeling of pain, but also one of relief. They have been very difficult years, rather lonely ones. I lose a job, but I get my life back."
Valencia's defeat to Sevilla at the Ramon Sanchez Pizjuan came hot on the heels of the team's 2-0 Champions League loss at Rosenborg last week.
In all, Valencia have now lost four of their last five competitive matches, having previously won seven on the trot before seeing that run ended by a 2-1 loss to Chelsea in Europe earlier this month.
A statement issued by the club earlier on Monday read: "The Valencia board met and after analysing the technical report given by the sporting director (Miguel Angel Ruiz) on the situation of the first team, which was considered irreversible after the latest matches in the league and Champions League, have taken the decision to dismiss the coach Quique Sanchez Flores."
Sanchez Flores took charge of Valencia in the summer of 2005 after replacing Claudio Ranieri, and led the team to a third-placed finish in his first season and a top-four spot last term.
He leaves with Valencia in fourth spot in La Liga, four points behind pacesetters Real Madrid, while at the halfway point of the Champions League group stages, Los Che are third in Group B on three points, behind Rosenborg and Chelsea.
Sanchez Flores added: "I hope (the club) achieves their goals. I have achieved a type of objective in the last two years and I left the club higher up in the table than when I took over.
"I hope the titles arrive as soon as possible. We are grateful for the good times, the complicated times, the happy times.
"I would like to thank the supporters for being so demanding because that will make us greater always. I would also like to thank the board members for choosing me and I hope they can go on to build a big project.
"I hope they demand as much of the next man, as the fans want. I have told the players to be professional, show honesty and intensity, and to help the new coach so that they can perform to the standards which the fans and history of this club deserve."
Reserve team coach Oscar Fernandez has taken over from Sanchez Flores on a temporary basis and will be in charge of Valencia's next match against Real at the Mestalla on Wednesday.
