Chelsea hero Mikel John Obi believes his old club are still battling to replace his generation of players.

Now with Middlesbrough, Mikel finds himself in direct competition with former Blues team-mates, though, after Ashley Cole joined Frank Lampard's Derby and John Terry became a coach at Aston Villa.

He told The Sun: “It's not been too bad for the Chelsea old guard, hey?"

But he believes their departure from Stamford Bridge has left a void, as he analyses Maurizio Sarri's current crop like a frustrated fan.

He said: “When I watch them now, they're fantastic players but I don't see leaders. During our time I could scream at Didier Drogba or Lampard.

"I was 24 or 25 years old but I could voice my opinion and it would be heard.

“Now when I watch them, there's no one talking to each other, taking responsibility of being the leader. You need that edge and right now that's what they're lacking."