Eden Hazard blames himself for Jose Mourinho Chelsea sacking and would love to work with him again

EDEN HAZARD has admitted he was partly to blame for Jose Mourinho being sacked by Chelsea  - and insisted the Manchester United boss is not a negative manager.

Mourinho's second spell at Stamford Bridge came to an end in December 2015 - seven months after he had led the club to the Premier League title.

And Hazard says turning up for pre-season overweight and out of shape was the catalyst for the dismal run of results which led to the Special One getting the chop.

In a revealing interview in Belgian title , Hazard has finally lifted the lid on his role in Chelsea's downfall three years ago - and jumped to the defence of his former manager who is now under pressure at United.

The 27-year-old said: "In 12 years I've only had one bad season, the last 6 months under Mourinho and it was partly my own fault.

"After the title, we asked Mourinho for extra holidays. I came back totally out of shape.

"The last season under Mourinho was not enjoyable. We didn’t win, we got into a sort of routine, training without having fun, it was better for all parties that we parted ways.

"But if I’m asked now about one coach with whom I want to work again, I would say Mourinho.

"I sent him a message to say I was sorry he had gone and that I was sorry. We’d enjoyed all that success together, but this time 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 then I performed less.

“I don’t regret many things in my career, but that I have not been able to work with Mourinho at Chelsea anymore is one of them.

"We had a team that could win more trophies. We just ended up in a negative cycle.”

Mourinho's man management has come in for criticism after falling out with Paul Pogba and going public with his criticism of under-performing United stars.

His methods have also been attacked for being too negative and out of date compare to the approaches adopted by the likes of Pep Guardiola, Jurgen Klopp and new Chelsea boss Maurizio Sarri.

Hazard admits Mourinho shifts the blame for poor form onto his squad, but suggests that should not be a problem.

He added: "If the results are poor, Jose starts criticising his players.

"You know that, but afterwards I’ve been able to accept that, it’s part of his character.

"If you win, Mourinho is the best coach you can imagine. Then he is a friend of yours – you ask whatever you want.

";Mourinho’s image of an extremely defensive coach isn’t completely right.

"He is far from adventurous like Guardiola, but the season in which we became champions, we have made many goals and played good games."