Chelsea midfielder Nemanja Matic has said that "it felt terrible" to be substituted after just 28 minutes by Jose Mourinho last season, while everyone at the club feels "one step better than before" under head coach Antonio Conte.

Matic has impressed this season for Chelsea, helping them to four straight Premier League victories and up to fourth in the table -- a stark contrast to the slump he endured last term as the Blues' title defence crumbled by December, when Mourinho was sacked by owner Roman Abramovich for the second time.

The Serbia international's lowest personal ebb came during Chelsea's 3-1 defeat to Southampton at Stamford Bridge in October 2015, when Mourinho brought him on as a half-time substitute before taking him off again in the 73rd minute.

"I felt terrible to be subbed, to be honest," Matic told the Daily Mirror. "I am a man first of all and of course I felt bad at that moment. But as you know, I didn't react, I stayed professional.

"Normally some of the players react to that and cause some problems but as you can see I didn't react and showed respect for the coach and for the club and my team.

"It was very hard. You have to play and see how it feels. I knew I did the right thing when I sat on the bench. I knew I did the right thing and I am proud that I didn't react."

Nemanja Matic is enjoying life under Antonio Conte. Srdjan Stevanovic/Getty Images

Matic is enjoying life at Chelsea far more under Conte, who took over the reins in the summer.

"As you can see, we have improved a lot in our game but that is normal," Matic said. "We had a new coach at the beginning of the season and every day we work on that to see what he wants from us and day by day, we are better and better and we show that on the pitch.

"We are in a good way. We are improving as a team. Also individually, I feel that everyone is one step better than before and much better. Of course everyone feels better when you win the games.

"I always try to give my best and work hard and with this season, with better results, it feels better. This season I am physically better and with the results come confidence. I hope to continue like this."