Unhappy striker Hernan Crespo left Chelsea because he failed to adapt to English football and the British way of life under Claudio Ranieri, the club's new manager Jose Mourinho said on Friday.
Crespo agreed a one-year loan to AC Milan on Thursday, sealing a similar return to Serie A as Chelsea team mate and fellow Argentine Juan Sebastian Veron, now on loan at Inter Milan.
Mourinho made no secret of where he felt responsibility lay for the two men's failures after last year's big-money moves to Stamford Bridge, telling a news conference: "I think you should ask Mr. Ranieri what was wrong with them.
"Because what was wrong was last season. You have to ask why big players like Veron and Crespo did not have enough success at Chelsea. It's not my problem. But I think the problems started with the players because they were not happy in the past.
"I couldn't speak with Veron because everything was decided before I came," said the Portuguese coach who joined last month.
"But with Hernan I was open, saying 'I don't like to work with people with problems, people who are not happy'. He's not happy in the club, he's not happy socially, and he's not happy in the family because he's not happy in his job."
By contrast, another of last season's signings, Romanian striker Adrian Mutu, has made it clear to Mourinho he wants to stay and fight for his place.
MUTU'S COMMITMENT
"I felt Mutu was fully committed and had a 100 percent desire to stay, I saw Hernan with a few doubts. I think he was not really well-adapted to the British reality, in football terms and as a society."
Mourinho said Crespo had been positive about his few training sessions under the new manager, but the Chelsea boss had ruled out trying to persuade him to stay.
"The first season is crucial," he said. "When a player's coming from a different reality and he has to adapt ... if they don't do it in the beginning, it becomes more difficult to do."
Mourinho does not expect any settling-in problems for new Serbia and Montenegro striker Mateja Kezman, who will play in Chelsea's first pre-season friendly at Oxford United on Saturday and who has already been impressive in training.
"Every player at this club is good, so football qualities don't impress me so much, because I already expect good things from them," he said.
"But when I see people with motivation and a desire for work, and happiness in their work...that impresses me more. And Kezman, like everybody, has come with a lot of motivation."
Mourinho also confirmed there would be no more signings by Chelsea, who have been linked with Olympique Marseille striker Didier Drogba, after they leave next Wednesday for a U.S. tour.
