Mata was not thought to be one of those cabal of players said to have got rid of the Portuguese.
Mata told Spanish radio station Cope: “He did not come to tell us off. He talked to us last week after the change of manager. He had also come to one or two training sessions.
“No player in the squad has done anything or thought about a change in the coach. He was the manager and we all put our faith in him. He had good ideas and he wanted to change things in the club but, in the end, it is the results that matter. Nobody got rid of him.”
