'Santi Cazorla was the first person I called' - Coach denies claims ex-Arsenal star got him sacked from La Liga club

Paunovic, who guided Oviedo back to La Liga and then oversaw a turbulent start with two wins and six losses, addressed the fans thanking them for their support. The Serbian coachdescribed the departure as sudden and brief, and revealed that the very first person he phoned after leaving the club was captain Cazorla. The ex-Oviedo coach also rejected claims of bad blood in the dressing room. His explanation comes at a time when Cazorla was being the driving force behind the sacking of the beloved coach, but now the truth has been revealed by the manager himself.

"I wanted to speak to the fans because I haven't had the chance to say goodbye. I also want to thank them for all the affection they've shown me over the past few days," Paunovic said. "I'll remember these seven months at Oviedo for the rest of my life," said Paunovic to Cope.

According to the 48-year-old manager, the club sacked him as they wanted to switch to a different approach.

"I demand a lot from the players in the locker room. I understand that some things can be upsetting, but I have no other way of working. I also believe it's the best way to achieve results. I've never had any problems with anyone," Paunovic said.

"They told me that the project's direction had to be changed. The explanation was very brief, and when I left the office, the first person I called was Santi Cazorla."

Paunovic also shared that he maintains a good relationship with the ex-Arsenal star.

"I have a very good relationship with him; we even sat down after training to talk about football. But now I don't understand why both Cazorla and I have to explain a situation that doesn't exist. I respect the locker room codes. Training sessions were all open, everyone saw what was going on, and nothing bad has ever happened."

The 40-year-old moved quickly to reject any suggestion that he had a hand in Paunovic’s dismissal. Speaking to the media, Cazorla insisted the news was a shock and defended his professionalism:

“I've been a professional for 22 years, and you can ask all the presidents, sporting directors, and coaches I've worked with. I've never had anything to do with a club's decisions to let go of a coach,” he said, stressing he would not allow his reputation to be damaged.

Cazorla also paid tribute to Paunovic’s work: “I'd like to thank Paunovic for his work, with whom I have a great relationship and was able to speak with him yesterday personally. I want to thank him and his coaching staff for everything we've achieved; they've become part of this club's history forever.”

Addressing the squad and supporters, he issued a blunt call for unity: “There are two options: Kill each other or die together. I'm clear about that, and nothing is above Real Oviedo.” The captain’s public defence has tempered speculation and rallied many fans behind the playing group.

Oviedo sit 17th after eight league games with the board moving swiftly to replace Paunovic with Luis Carrion, a decision met with mixed fan reaction. In his previous stint with the Spanish club, Carrion took them to the La Liga playoffs in the 2023-24 season after rescuing them from a relegation-threatened position. During that tenure, he managed 42 matches with 20 wins, 11 draws and 11 losses. Despite narrowly missing out on promotion, Carrion’s leadership marked a turnaround for Oviedo, convincing the board to bring him back 16 months later amid the club's struggles this season.