Michael Ballack has suggested that Chelsea's first-team squad were to blame for Jose Mourinho's departure in 2007.

Having failed to win the Premier League title for a third successive year, a poor start to the following campaign led to Mourinho being removed from his position in the dugout.

While Mourinho took responsibility at the time, Ballack has acknowledged that Chelsea's players were to blame after under-performing over a lengthy period.

Speaking to Sky Sports' Transfer Talk Podcast, the German said: "I was experienced enough to understand. When you are not winning, the coach is more or less the weakest person in the team who can be replaced.

"He was in his fourth year. If you look at the average time a manager has to work in a club, it was quite a good time. The way he worked was so intense that maybe you come to a point where things are not working anymore.

"Even then, the fans know what he achieved at the club to take them back to that level. It was more or less everyone's fault - the players' fault. It was not something we regret, though, we had to look forward."

Ballack spent four years at Stamford Bridge, contributing 25 goals from 168 appearances in all competitions.