Jose Angel Ziganda admits he left "surprised" and "sad" after being sacked as coach of Osasuna on Monday, along with assistant Andoni Goikoetxea.
However, Ziganda also accepted the decision after a disappointing start to the Primera Liga season that saw Osasuna fail to win any of their opening six games, leaving them 16th in the standings.
"It surprised me," said the 42-year-old Ziganda, who has been in charge at the Estadio Reyno de Navarra for two seasons, leading the team to the UEFA Cup semi-final in 2007.
"I knew that the situation was bad, because if you don't pick up points then all the coaches are walking a tightrope.
"We are very sad but we have to accept it."
Although they have failed to win any of their matches so far, Osasuna have only lost two - against league leaders Valencia and Racing Santander - and drawn the other four.
However, they now have a record of just one victory in their last 12 Primera Liga fixtures stretching back to last season, seven of which have ended in defeat.
They are also one of only two Primera Liga clubs not to have won yet this season, with the other being bottom side Real Betis, and during their last home game against Racing, fans called for Ziganda - a former Osasuna striker - to leave.
"The reasons are obvious. We have not managed to win and the team needed a change," added Ziganda.
"We wanted more time, because I think that the team has been capable of winning all the games. We wanted more time to get the best performances out of the players, but the club want results.
"There is a lot of pressure and in the end the string is broken."
Osasuna, who have yet to announce Ziganda's replacement, return to Primera Liga action this weekend with a trip to Sporting Gijon.
(reopens) Osasuna confirmed on Monday evening that they had reached an agreement with former Spain coach Jose Antonio Camacho to take over from Ziganda.
A statement on the Osasuna website read: "Jose Antonio Camacho will replace Jose Angel Ziganda on the Osasuna bench for the rest of the current season.
"The agreement between the club and the coach was reached this evening and, with the exception of a signature, Camacho will be the coach of Osasuna until June 2009, along with his assistant Pepe Carcelen."
The 53-year-old Camacho, who is due to be presented by Osasuna at 1300 local time on Tuesday, has a wealth of coaching experience having started out with Rayo Vallecano in 1992.
Since then he has been in charge of clubs such as Real Madrid, Espanyol, Sevilla and Benfica, as well as the Spanish national team, whom he coached from 1998 to 2002.
