Carlos Queiroz, sacked as Real Madrid coach on Monday, paid for decisions that had been made before his arrival, according to Real midfielder Luis Figo.

"The coach did everything possible to win with what he was given by the club," the Portuguese international told Spanish sports daily Marca on Tuesday.

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Figo said decisions to organise an exhausting but money-spinning pre-season tour of Asia and offload several key players, plus Real's failure to strengthen the defence had made Queiroz's job especially difficult.

"He did everything he could and did it with the utmost professionalism and commitment," Figo said.

Real president Florentino Perez accused Queiroz of lacking sufficient authority as coach and has replaced him with former Spain coach Jose Antonio Camacho. Real ended a humiliating season with a record run of five straight league defeats.

Queiroz, who warned Real that the squad was dangerously thin when he took over as coach in June, said he thought his dismissal had been unjustified.

"I'm disappointed with the decision that they have taken," he told Marca. "I believe that it was unjust, but I have to accept it.

"All I can say is that serving Real Madrid has been an honour for me and I want to wish the club all the best in the future."

Unlike Queiroz, Camacho, who will be presented to the media on Tuesday, will have the benefit of a more balanced squad when he takes charge.

Last week Perez signed the first defender of his four-year presidency by recruiting Argentine centre-back Walter Samuel from AS Roma for 25 million euros (16.7 million pounds).

Perez confirmed on Monday he will be standing in this year's presidential election which is likely to take place on July 11.