Former Chelsea captain Marcel Desailly believes they must break with tradition and look to change their players rather than the manager for next season.

Antonio Conte's position is under increased scrutiny following Chelsea's 1-1 home draw against West Ham, meaning the defending Premier League champions have won just five of their last 20 matches in all competitions.

The Italian has clashed with the Chelsea board repeatedly this campaign over their transfer policy last summer and less than 12 months after clinching the title, he looks set to depart Stamford Bridge. His former Juventus team-mate Gianluca Vialli even claimed Conte 'could not wait to leave'.

Chelsea should stick with manager Antonio Conte next season, according to Marcel Desailly

Desailly was speaking as part of his role with UEFA Europa League partners Enterprise

But Desailly feels owner Roman Abramovich must look to overhaul the squad instead this time, rather than make the 13th managerial change of his tenure.

'What was working last season with Conte cannot suddenly not work this season,' Desailly told Sportsmail. 'Before they've changed the coach, and kept the players. This time they should keep the coach and look to move four to five players on.

'Your best players' performances have dropped and Chelsea did not get the correct players with the correct strengths or another top player in the summer.

'Players like [Victor] Moses and [Marcos] Alonso played a magnificent season last year but they were in need of support this year.

'It's been a collective failure at Chelsea this season. I don't think the situation that Chelsea are in is Conte's fault - you must give him that season.'

Conte signed improved terms with the club in July but did not extend the length of his contract, which expires at the end of next season.

Chelsea's players appear dejected during their 1-1 draw with West Ham at Stamford Bridge

The manager clashed with talismanic striker Diego Costa in the summer by informing him by text that he was not needed for next season. The Spain international has since returned to Atletico Madrid.

Chelsea also sold key midfielder Nemanja Matic to rivals Manchester United and Desailly believes the loss of both players, who were pivotal to the title-winning campaign, means Conte is right to be frustrated.

'Massive. Massive,' Desailly says when asked about the sales of Costa and Matic in the summer.

'Costa would have scored 10 goals more than [his replacement] Alvaro Morata. So maybe that's five more wins and that's a big difference.

Conte fell out with Diego Costa at the end of last season after a memorable title triumph

Desailly, who played for Chelsea between 1998 and 2004, thinks the club should sell players

'And the system of three at the back did not work this season because Conte lost Matic,' added Desailly.

'Matic fitted with N'Golo Kante at the time and Cesc Fabregas fitted better in that system with him too. Together they protected the defence like it was needed.'

Chelsea are set to miss out on Champions League qualification for next season as they sit 10 points off Tottenham in fourth place with six matches remaining.

Star man Eden Hazard has cut a frustrated figure at times this season and is set to stall on signing a new deal with Chelsea in order to attract a bid from Real Madrid.

But Desailly, who won the 2000 FA Cup at Stamford Bridge, believes Chelsea can recover from the loss of the Belgian and will still be able to attract sufficient replacements in the summer despite having no Champions League football to offer.

Eden Hazard is a long-term target for Real Madrid and could be tempted away this summer

'Abramovich is passionate and he will be disappointed [at missing out on Champions League] but they will still be able to get some good players,' Desailly said.

'If tomorrow you sell Hazard, you can sign another three players who can step up,' the Frenchman said.

'And Willian, for example, is brilliant but he's just one of those players. He can lift his level and bring a new dimension and become another first-class player.'

Marcel Desailly is working with UEFA Europa League partner Enterprise Rent-A-Car on their Backseat Pundit competition. To find out how you can ride to a game with a football legend and enjoy special rates on car hire across Europe, visit www.backseatpundit.co.uk.