Lille winger Salomon Kalou feels the departure of Jose Mourinho was the end of his chances at Chelsea.
The 27-year-old Ivory Coast international was signed at Chelsea by Mourinho from Feyenoord in 2006.
He told L'Equipe: "If Mourinho would have stayed at Chelsea I could have matched expectations, because what I need is a coach that is backing me 100 per cent."