Chelsea should have kept faith with Jose Mourinho and not sacked the Portuguese tactician, according to Gianluca Vialli.
The Blues parted company with Mourinho last December just seven months after the 53-year-old had led the club to the Premier League title.
Nine defeats in Chelsea's opening 16 games of the new season - which left the club one point above the relegation zone - saw Roman Abramovich lose patience in Mourinho and bring in Guus Hiddink as interim coach.
The Dutchman led Chelsea to a top-half finish but Vialli is adamant his former club should have given Mourinho more time to reverse Chelsea's fortunes.
"I don't think I would have changed the manager," Vialli told Goal.
"Obviously things improved slightly after Guus Hiddink took over, he is very good at giving everybody confidence and playing things down and so on, but I didn't see that huge of an improvement.
"Jose could have stayed and sorted things out his own way. It is always difficult.
"Eventually Jose left but the season has been quite average, even after [his sacking]. I am a bit disappointed but I am sure the future is very bright," he added.
Antonio Conte has been named as Chelsea's new permanent manager and will take charge at Stamford Bridge following the conclusion of Euro 2016.
The Italian is expected to oversee significant changes to the Chelsea squad but Vialli has dismissed concerns that his countryman's management style will not benefit the Blues.
"He is not a disciplinarian, he's just somebody that demands that the players try as hard as they possibly can in training and on matchdays.
"I also believe that the Chelsea dressing room is used to having managers like that Ancelotti is demanding, Mourinho is demanding, they are used to the continental mentality," Vialli added.
