Leicester striker Jamie Vardy has said speculation that he was involved in manager Claudio Ranieri's dismissal is "untrue and extremely hurtful".
Ranieri was sacked on Thursday nine months after leading the club to the Premier League title.
Caretaker manager Craig Shakespeare previously denied a player revolt led to Ranieri's dismissal.
"Claudio has and always will have my complete respect," Vardy said in a post on Instagram.
"There is speculation I was involved in his dismissal and this completely untrue, unfounded and is extremely hurtful.
"The only thing we are guilty of as a team is underachieving, which we all acknowledge both in the dressing room and publicly, and will do our best to rectify.