Antonio Conte has revealed his "disappointment" after Marcelo Bielsa's Leeds United exit.
Tottenham Hotspur's 4-0 win at Elland Road rounded off a dreadful February for the Whites, breaking an unwanted record for the most goals conceded in a Premier League calendar month.
Leeds are without win since their 3-2 victory against West Ham last month, and have slipped perilously close to the relegation zone.
The Spurs boss claims the news of Bielsa's departure 'hurt him' and paid tribute to the former Leeds United boss.
Speaking to Football London, Conte said: "Honestly I’m very disappointed because we’re talking about an important manager and we are talking about a person that is a master for many managers, for many coaches in the past and in the present.
"I think, yesterday when I read the news, this news hurt me. We’re talking, I repeat, about not only a manager with a great idea and vision of football and taught a lot to other people, especially people in this job, but at the same time I have great respect for him as a person and as a man.
"In every situation he showed great integrity and honestly in football it’s not always you can find this type of person. I’m really disappointed for this but on the other hand, I understand that the club has to make a decision and I know very well the owner and chairman.
"Andrea Radrizzani, he’s my friend and it was nice to read the words he used yesterday about Marcelo. He spoke about the mentality he brought to the club because he worked for three and a half years.
"After the first season when they lost the promotion in the semi-final they had a promotion and then a fantastic season and also this season they were out of the relegation zone, but I understand the club has to try to change a situation and the first person you can change at this moment is the coach. But for sure Andrea knows very well the value of Marcelo and what he did for this club in this three and a half years."
