"?Chelsea midfielder Eden Hazard insists he was in Jose Mourinho's corner during the former Blues manager's final days at Stamford Bridge, according to a report in the "?Independent.
Midway through the 2015/16 season, Mourinho was sacked and left Chelsea for the second time in his career following the worst title defence in Premier League history as the club hovered above relegation.
Hazard was one of many players under-performing and reports claimed the Belgian was keen to see Mourinho gone but he now claims that that was not the case.
"People say what they want," Hazard told L'Equipe. "It was a period where I wasn't playing well. But deep down I never wanted Mourinho to be fired. I was behind him.
"We experienced some great things. This year I wasn't as good. But I picked myself up. I took it upon myself. I was criticised a lot. I made do with it. It doesn't affect me. I've come back well, quite simply.
"I haven't had a good year. You have to be clear -- I've had a rubbish year apart from the final month [for Chelsea]. I had little problems, injuries and a loss of form.
"When I got back to 100 percent at the end of the season, I showed everything that I could do. I hope to continue that way."