Gary Cahill has joked that it was a shame former team-mate Frank Lampard wasn't in charge of Chelsea last season.

The veteran defender endured a tough eighth and final season at Stamford Bridge under Maurizio Sarri, making just two Premier League appearances, before joining Crystal Palace this summer.

"It's a shame he [Lampard] wasn't in last year when I was there," he told talkSPORT.

"No, I'm only joking. It would have been very interesting to work under him, especially when you've played with him and know what he's like, it would have been an experience I would have relished.

"Leaving Chelsea was sad, but naturally everything has to come to an end."

But the 33-year-old added that it was definitely the right time to leave the west London club.

"It was certainly the right time for me to go from that club and I have nothing but positive things to say about the club," he continued.

"There's no issue there. It was just naturally the right time to go.

"Every single year I've made many, many appearances throughout my career, and last year I made hardly any, so that tells it all and that it was the right time to go."