"Other clubs like last year's champions Perth Glory or Melbourne Victory don't play with so many talents from the amateurs. But I hope that the path with this philosophy will continue in Sydney."

But he admitted he had his flaws and accepted his time had come to an end with Wanderers.

"I certainly made mistakes, but after a day I ask for your understanding that I am not taking stock of the big picture," he admitted.

"Only now I need some time to think about everything. Football is very different. There is the salary cap, there are other ways of getting foreigners, and I was able to help bring this young club forward...

"I got to know a lot of great people. I was treated with a lot of respect and hopefully I was able to give something back.

"We are all old enough and know how the business works and that's it. That came as no surprise. A big compliment to those responsible for trying so long to get the curve with me.

"But the results were simply missing. The path was clearly in the right direction. Such a decision is not surprising unless the points are scored. That's football."

He also says CEO John Tsatsimas was unable to look him in the eye when he finally pulled the plug on the coach's career in Australia.

"When I said goodbye, I felt a lot of emotions," said Babbel. "I noticed that I left footprints. It wasn't just a business relationship, it was more.

"And then it's just nice to get such a reaction from everyone. We all get out of this story well and clean.

"The President found it extremely difficult to inform me of the decision. He couldn't really look me in the eye.

"I had to calm him down and just said, 'John, don't worry. I know how it works.' At some point you have to pull the rip cord."

Now Babbel plans to stay in Australia for the rest of summer before returning to Germany in May.

He added: "It was clear from the start that we would go back to Germany.

"I need better football again."