Michael Ballack spent four years at Chelsea and won the 2010 Premier League
The German questioned whether his former club are making the right decisions
Some Chelsea stars are concerned over time it's taking to settle on a manager
Michael Ballack has launched a scathing maxbet criticism of Chelsea's hierarchy and urged the club to consider going a 'different way'.
The former Chelsea midfielder has questioned whether his old club are making the right decisions after they failed to qualify for the Champions League for a second time in three years.
Chelsea spent nearly £200m last summer - the fourth most across Europe - and smashed their transfer record to pay up to £70m sign Alvaro Morata from Real Madrid. Yet they finished 30 points behind winners Manchester City and 11 behind second-placed United.
'It's not what Chelsea is asking for, running so far behind,' said Ballack, who helped Chelsea to the Premier League title in 2010 as well as winning three FA Cups and one League Cup during his four years at Stamford Bridge.
'Chelsea with its history shouldn't have different ambitions. You have to think about what happened the last three years.
'Finishing fifth is not good enough for Chelsea, and especially in the last three seasons not qualifying for the Champions League twice.
'It's a sign, it's a development with which you have to be careful. You have to question yourself inside Chelsea to see what you have done right and what you have done wrong.
'Even the title last year was achieved by being out of European competition.. It's achieved by good circumstances. But not qualifying (for the Champions League) now, you should question are you making the right decisions?'
Chelsea have consistently been one of the biggest spenders in Europe since Roman Abramovich took over the club in 2003 and have won the trophies to match.
Since Abramovich's arrival, Chelsea have won five Premier League titles, five FA Cups, three League Cups, two Community Shields, one Europa League and one Champions League. Two of those Premier League titles have come in the last four seasons.
However, they slipped miles behind Man City last term and have yet to make any summer maxbet signings as the uncertainty over the future of manager Antonio Conte continues to hold back any potential deals.
Conte is expected to be sacked once a replacement is confirmed while Spanish media suggest Real Madrid could swoop for the Italian after the resignation of Zinedine Zidane.
Abramovich is being refused entry back into the UK after his visa expired which has led to the Chelsea owner putting a stop to the club's £1billion project to redevelop Stamford Bridge.
Even with that disruption aside, Ballack believes Chelsea's on-field performances have not been good enough to prove that the club is going in the right direction.
'It's not always about the money to be successful it's also about the strategy,' said Betfair ambassador Ballack at the Betfair Road To Russia Preview.
'They have a really good youth team that beats everybody. They have good young talent which you can work with. There is quality there. I have seen them myself there.
'It's not always about spending the big money, taking risks, relying on one or two players. maxbet Maybe it's time also to go in a different way for Chelsea.'
