Ernesto Valverde has accepted his sacking at Villarreal.

Villarreal have confirmed reserve coach Juan Carlos Garrido will take charge of the first team until the end of the season.

Valverde had made a brief appearance yesterday to say his goodbyes to his former players.

Valverde said: "I've come to say goodbye to the team. It's a different and hard situation for me. The club decided that we wouldn't continue at the helm of Villarreal.

"I came with a lot of excitement because it was the team I wanted to train and it is true that things, from the beginning, did not happen as we all hoped.

"I have to thank the president who first thought of me and also for the confidence he put in us during the bad times."

The Yellow Submarine had only lost once in their previous seven league games - a run of results which included a draw at the Nou Camp against Spanish and European champions Barcelona - but Valverde paid the price for an inconsistent season which has also seen them crash out of the Copa del Rey to second division Celta Vigo.

He added: "It's certain that we haven't played very well in the past two or three games and that the elimination from the Copa did us a lot of damage and also yesterday the team were bad, and I can only say that the only person responsible is me.

"I am the visible head of the team, the club made a decision and I have to accept it.

"Thank you everyone."