Mourinho, who brought Kalou to the club, left Stamford Bridge by mutual consent last month, with Avram Grant installed as his successor.

Since then the new manager has brought in coach Henk ten Cate from Ajax to be his assistant alongside Steve Clarke - and the side has lost just one game since the 52-year-old Israeli took command.

Kalou, 22, admits it was difficult for him to see Mourinho go purely because the Portuguese coach was responsible for signing him, but he now maintains the squad are determined to do the best they can under the new regime.

The Ivorian also claims he is no stranger to managerial upheaval and has taken the changes in his stride.

Kalou said: "I had it at Feyenoord when Ruud Gullit left. But in that situation Gullit left at the end of the season.

"In this case, it didn't happen like that, but it's all experience. It's all part of football. In this game you meet people, you work with people, but things change.

"Jose Mourinho brought me to Chelsea so in that respect it was difficult to see him go. But for me, it is also important that you keep the great memories of that person and look back on it as a good time.

"I'm a professional footballer and these things happen so we have to move on. The most important thing is the team. As professionals, that's all that matters, so we have to give our best to whoever we are working with.

"Avram likes his players to be focused on their jobs and their goals. He knows what he wants and where he's going. So we have to make his job as easy as we can by giving him our best."

Kalou is clearly enjoying his football and was on target in Saturday's 6-0 demolition of Manchester City.

He added: "We have to be focused on playing well and winning and forget about everything else. If we are doing well on the pitch, everything is back to normal. We need to make sure our energy is directed at the pitch and nowhere else."

Meanwhile, Aston Villa's Gareth Barry has rejected speculation linking him with a move to Chelsea as a possible replacement for the unsettled Frank Lampard.

Rumours are rife Chelsea will make a swoop for Barry in the January transfer window but the Villa skipper has moved to reassure fans he is not leaving.

Barry told the club's official website, www.avfc.co.uk: "I saw the story but it was the first I'd heard of it. Of course I am happy at Villa.

"I guess it is just a reflection of how I am doing at club and international level. How true it is, I don't know. I certainly won't be worrying about it of thinking about it. I'd like to reassure fans that I am not looking to leave.

"The manager, chairman - we are all going in the right direction. These things come up suddenly from time to time, and I don't know how true they are."