Real Madrid defender Achraf Hakimi has revealed the club’s players still do not know exactly why Zinedine Zidane left.
Just days after leading the club to a third successive Champions League win in as many seasons, the Frenchman quit from the Bernabeu.
He told a press conference: "What I think is that this team needs to continue winning but I think it needs a change, a different voice, another methodology."
That was having previously declared he would walk away from the Spanish club if there was “nothing more to give”.
Some suggested Zidane walked away because of Real’s ageing squad - with talisman Cristiano Ronaldo since departing, leaving a large void up top.
His decision has since appeared to be vindicated, with Los Blancos suffering a poor start to the season - trailing rivals Barcelona in La Liga by seven points after 11 games.
Zidane’s successor Julen Lopetegui lasted just four-and-a-half months in the job before being sacked just last week in the wake of a humiliating 5-1 loss away at Barca.
And right-back Hakimi - currently impressing on loan at Borussia Dortmund in Germany - criticised the decision to get rid of former Spanish national team coach Lopetegui.
But he also opened up on the shock of Zidane’s exit, revealing that the players were not informed exactly why Zidane chose to step down.
"We didn't know anything about it," the Morocco international told Radio Marca.
"We thought he was going to continue at Real Madrid."
"Only he really knows his reasons for leaving and he decided it, but I'm happy for him and he deserves all the good things that happen to him."
Lopetegui was in charge for just 14 matches before being relieved of his duties in the Spanish capital, and Hakimi felt the coach needed more time to implement his methods.
"I was surprised by how little time he was given," Hakimi continued.
"He didn't have the time to show his potential as coach."