BERLIN: Soon-to-be Bayern Munich coach Carlo Ancelotti believes a “lack of motivation” within the squad at his old club Chelsea is what cost Jose Mourinho his job.

Mourinho was fired last week with Chelsea languishing just above the relegation zone in the Premier League only seven months after they won the title.

“When things are going well, there is a risk of relaxation; when things are going badly, obviously there is a loss of confidence,” Ancelotti told Goal.com.

“The coach must always keep a good balance in that sense, lifting the confidence levels particularly when things don't seem to be working.

“It's a little of this that Mourinho paid for, the fact that the team had not started like last year, when they had a tremendous desire to do well after a bad year.

“This year it was exactly the opposite; he paid for the lack of motivation among the players.”

Ancelotti knows all about being sacked at Stamford Bridge — he won the double in his first season at Chelsea in 2009-10 only to be fired at the end of the following campaign after finishing second.

The 56-year-old Italian will take over at Bayern at the end of this season on a three-year deal to replace Pep Guardiola, who announced at the weekend that he would be stepping down.

The former Real Madrid coach said he would spend the coming months learning German as he prepares for his first experience of the Bundesliga.

“The thing that has enriched me most in these past few years has without doubt been getting to know different cultures; the customs in various countries,” said Ancelotti, who has also coached Paris Saint-Germain since leaving his homeland.

“I believe that it will be this kind of experience in Germany; very interesting. Learning German? I've already started. I can confirm that it's not easy!

“The important thing, though, is to find a good player-coach relationship and to carry forward your beliefs, managing to convince the players of the merit of your ideas.”