Christian Gross - "I was not a failure"

At a news conference organised by Gross himself, the Swiss manager insisted that his nine months in English football had been a success and said he held no grudge against the club.

"I didn't go, I had to go," Gross said. "There are different reasons but I am not the person to say why.

"Now, after three games, I think it is too short to judge me and decide my fate. It is not a failure for me to be judged after three games, especially after a big win at Everton.

"I am not angry, I am disappointed, and I am now looking forward. In my managerial career I have been very successful up to now. This is the first time results have not gone well for me but I have to deal with this in a positive way and I will do so."

Amicable parting

In a bizarre move, the man responsible for Gross' departure, Tottenham chairman Alan Sugar, sat alongside the former Grasshoppers manager to explain the club's actions.

Alan Sugar: Media destroyed Gross

"Christian's departure is for internal reasons," Sugar said.

"I think one has to say we were faced with an untenable situation created, with all due respect, by the media, and we the board felt that Christian - no matter how professional or how good he is - had been destroyed by the media, it is as simple as that."

Although there have been stories of unrest between Gross and his players, he insisted he did not regret the way he had carried out his job.

"Since I arrived I have tried to do the best I can for Tottenham and I have always been guided by this vision to do the best I can for the club.