In the case of Big Phil Scolari, both ganged up to deliver the Chelsea dagger in his back yesterday. Scolari was shocked by the timing of his demise but not surprised he was out of a job.
Instead, the man who won the World Cup with Brazil in 2002 felt his world torn apart by three men who betrayed him and an employer who did not support his judgment.
In particular, Scolari believes Michael Ballack, Didier Drogba and Petr Cech knifed him during his 224 days in charge at Stamford Bridge. And what emerged last night from the train wreck that is Chelseas season was a picture of a club deeply divided by warring factions. Scolaris spokesman, Acaz Felleger, told SunSport that the coach trusted John Terry and Frank Lampard implicitly.
He also believed chief executive Peter Kenyon was a staunch ally. But beyond that is a tangled web of accusation, lies and espionage.
Felleger said: "He knew he was supported by Kenyon, who agrees with the work he had being doing.
"It was agreed that the Chelsea squad would be renovated. Everybody knows Chelsea had an old group of players.
"It simply didnt happen in January. Kenyon and Chelsea icons such as Terry and Lampard were on Felipes side but the owners of the club understood it differently."
Kenyon was excluded from the decision-making process about Scolari and was caught unaware while on holiday. He was ordered to return to London and is due to attend a board meeting today.
Scolari believes his sacking was a knee-jerk reaction by the Blues billionaire owner Roman Abramovich.
The 60-year-old firmly believes Ballack, Cech and Drogba poisoned the view of the club owner towards him. He told a close friend: "Ballack, Cech and Drogba became my enemies.
"Somehow, they have a direct line to Abramovich." Scolari was alarmed by stories that his £8million signing Deco was partying. He believed the story had been leaked by someone close to Ballack.
In response, Scolari called a team meeting in which he warned the players about speaking out of turn.
Scolari also blames keeper coach Christope Lollichon for ruining his relationship with Cech. Lollichons relationship with Scolari became so strained that he was banned from the pre-match team-talk ahead of last weekends game with Hull.
Drogba and Scolari had a much-publicised falling-out after the strikers poor performance during the 3-0 defeat at Manchester United last month. The Ivory Coast captain was dropped from the squad for two games but Scolari desperately tried to get rid of him altogether.
A plan to swap Drogba for Robinho was hatched and Scolari said the Brazilian would leave Manchester City last month.
A friend of Scolaris said: "He wanted to get rid of a problem and exchange it for a solution.
"He needed someone to break down defences most of his players were too scared and wanted to pass the ball sideways."
But the clubs response was to refuse the chance to meet with Robinhos father and agent Gilvan de Souza. At that point, Scolari knew his days as Chelsea manager were numbered.
On February 1 his team went to Anfield and lost to Liverpool. The following day it was decided that Scolari would be replaced.
Abramovich called his deputy Eugene Tenenbaum and asked for a list of solutions.
AC Milan coach Carlo Ancelotti was in the frame last summer. He has an agreement to leave Milan in May.
If he comes next week or next summer he will find a club in need of unification.
Whatever Scolaris belief as to why he was fired, his record at Chelsea has not been good enough. Scolari was, quite simply, not up to the task of managing the club. Put in charge of a group of talented, experienced and well-paid individuals, he failed to stamp his authority on the team.
Big Phil ruled with a helping hand instead of an iron fist and being too soft eventually cost him his job.
Scolaris employers found themselves asking the same questions as the Chelsea fans. . .
How could a team which went within two points of winning the league last season fall out of the title race by February?
How could a team which was one penalty from lifting the Champions League a few months ago be so poor this season?
How long could it be allowed to go on?
The last question, at least, was answered yesterday. Where Chelsea go from here is another issue.