Leicester caretaker manager Craig Shakespeare has rejected any claims sacked boss Claudio Ranieri had lost the dressing room.
The 53-year-old also revealed he was shocked Ranieri was axed, having been told just 10 minutes before the news was made public on Thursday night.
Leicester are a point above the Premier League relegation zone after losing their last five games, having won the title by 10 points last season.
Reports had suggested some players had spoken to the club's Thai owners to voice their concerns over Ranieri's reign but Shakespeare dismissed rumours of unrest.
Mixed reaction to Ranieri sacking pic.twitter.com/jydW5Klmm0
— RTÉ Soccer (@RTEsoccer) February 24, 2017
"I'm not aware of any senior players going to the owners so that's news to me," he said. "What I would say, there was a lot of frustration because of results but he hadn't lost the dressing room," he said.
"Players have a voice, we have a good group of players who are tactically aware. You listen to the players but it's the manager who makes the final call.
"From a football point of view I have to tell you that the players are very professional. They are very hurt and very frustrated.
"I've not had one problem with them on the training field. They are very diligent and professional. They will be very disappointed, like everybody else, that the manager has lost his job."
The Foxes flew back following the 2-1 Champions League defeat at Sevilla on Thursday, and Ranieri was told he was fired by director of football Jon Rudkin when they landed.
Shakespeare admitted no-one, including Ranieri, saw the decision coming and also insisted his relationship with the former manager had not soured.
He said: "We flew back from Seville, I arrived home and had a call, just before the news broke, from the director of football Jon Rudkin to tell me what was happening, asking me to take care of the next game.
"A lot of it has been speculation, with no foundation. My relationship with Claudio has been perfectly fine all the way along. I have never had a problem with him, he has never had a problem with me. I spoke to him after the news broke and he thanked me for my support.
"He seemed fine, a bit shocked but his tone was no different. He was very level headed in terms of 'that's football'. Most of the conversation will stay private but his tone was fine."
Shakespeare is due to be in charge for Monday's Premier League visit of Liverpool with Leicester still searching for their first top flight goal of 2017.
They have not won in the league since Boxing Day and, when asked if he wanted the job to save the champions from relegation, Shakespeare was bullish in his reply.
He said: "Do I think I can do the job? Yes. Does it phase me? No. But again, the focus is just on Monday night."
Leicester chairman Vichai Srivaddhanaprabha has also urged angry fans to respect the decision to dispense with Ranieri and hinted at serious problems behind the scenes at the club.
The Thai businessman said the Foxes had "millions" of things to sort out if they were to "survive", describing the situation they were in as a crisis.
In his statement on Instagram, which was published on the BBC Leicester Sport Twitter account, Srivaddhanaprabha said: "Thank you to our followers who understand and still support me in any circumstances.
"What you have seen is only some sides of the club which we can show to the public.
"We have done our best as a management. We do not have only one problem to solve, but there are millions thing to do to make our club survive.
"I would like to take this crisis situation to thank you all fans, and at the same time I do understand you. I really appreciate for the fans who still (have) love and understanding. And also thanks for the ones who keep complaining to me and the management team. I do understand you too."
"Please respect my decision. I will never let the club down."
Meanwhile, Jurgen Klopp has compared the sacking of Premier League winning manager Claudio Ranieri to Brexit and Donald Trump's election as US president.
The Italian was shown the door at Leicester only nine months after masterminding one of sport's greatest stories and his departure has been met with shock and sadness.
Leicester play their first match without Ranieri against Liverpool in the Premier League on Monday.
Reds boss Klopp said: "What can I say? Am I surprised that things like this can happen? No. It is not only football.
"For me there have been a few strange decisions in 16/17: Brexit, Trump, Ranieri. Do I have to understand it all the time - obviously not. I have no idea why Leicester did this.
"He is a really special person in this business, a really nice guy. I met him before when he visited me at Dortmund and we had a nice talk. He is a wonderful person."
"Does it change a lot for us? Not sure, we will see. I think probably the two assistants will do it so that's not a change.
Klopp takes Liverpool to Leicester on Monday wary of a side who may produce a reaction in the wake of the departure of their manager, as is so often the case. But the Foxes' situation is one which does not concern him specifically.
"Things I have no influence on I cannot really think about," he added. "Does it change a lot for us? Not sure, we will see. I think probably the two assistants will do it so that's not a change.
"Probably the players have to show a few things and they (will) want to. It is obvious to not let them.
"You saw the Champions League game (against Sevilla in midweek) and the reaction after they scored: it was like two different games before and after they scored.
"Obviously they needed this goal to get confidence back. It was unbelievable the change in this one second when they scored.
"Maybe they can keep this and then we have to make it not too easy for them to bring it on the pitch or to not let their confidence grow.
"We have to play our best football - that's what we have been working on for 15 days. If we play our best we will be difficult to play against whoever."
