Chelsea ace Eden Hazard says he was guilt-ridden over the sacking of Jose Mourinho.

Mourinho was axed by the Premier League champions in December after a disastrous first half of the season leaving the Blues just one point above the relegation zone after 16 games..

"I sent him (Mourinho) the message to say I was sorry he had gone and, well, just that I was sorry," Hazard told The Guardian. "We'd enjoyed all that success together last season, but this time round we hadn't.

"I felt a little bit guilty because I'd been player of the year. I'd been one of the most decisive players, and this year I'd performed less well."