Bayern Munich president Uli Hoeness has revealed that some members of the squad had turned against Niko Kovac in the latter stages of his time with the club.
Kovac was sacked last weekend following a 5-1 defeat against Eintracht Frankfurt in the Bundesliga, with Hansi Flick placed in charge of first-team affairs on an interim basis.
Hoeness has conceded that some of Bayern's players had started to turn against the 48-year-old, who only lost eight of his 65 matches in charge of the Bundesliga champions.
"There have certainly been currents within the team that wanted Kovac gone," Hoeness told ZDF Sport Studio. "That's why the leadership reacted accordingly."
Bayern have won both of their matches since Kovac departed, overcoming Olympiacos in the Champions League last week before thumping Borussia Dortmund 4-0 in the Bundesliga on Saturday.
Arsene Wenger had been linked with the managerial role at the Allianz Arena but the Frenchman has recently ruled himself out of the running.