One Direction manager Simon Cowell recently spoke up about the famed boy band and their upcoming hiatus. Cowell said that the group was "exhausted" and that a well-deserved break was just right for them.

Talking to Event magazine, Cowell revealed that One Direction was exhausted after five years of being in the industry. "The way I look at it with One Direction is that we've had five fantastic years and they're totally exhausted," Cowell said as quoted by The Times of India.

Cowell, who formed the group back when they auditioned for the hit show "The X Factor (UK)," revealed that the boys deserved their break. "They need time out, but they will all be fine and if they want to come back, they will. If not, they're all going to be OK," he said.

Meanwhile, Cowell revealed how his relationship with One Direction members Harry Styles, Louis Tomlinson, Niall Horan and Liam Payne was more than just plain business.

Apparently, One Direction's contract was already up after two years, but the group remained to be committed to Cowell. "They actually came out of their contract with me two years ago. They got offers for way more money from other record companies," Cowell said as quoted by Gulf News.

"Everyone jumped in. They could have really turned the screw on me if they'd wanted to, but they didn't waver for a second, they stuck with me because we have a relationship," he added. Their bond continued to be strong despite losing Zayn Malik, who recently exited the band.

"I knew Zayn was going before it happened. He was unhappy," Cowell revealed as quoted by Gulf News. "My concern was actually for the boys. Zayn wasn't in a great place but it was his decision to leave, he wasn't kicked out. He wanted to distance himself. My responsibility was to the boys because they had no warning."

However, Malik recently revealed the real reason he left the group. The "Befour" singer said that he felt he was not in control with the music at all. "There was just a general conception that the management already had of what they want for the band, and I just wasn't convinced with what we were selling. I wasn't 100 percent behind the music. It wasn't me," he told The Fader.

Malik in July announced his new deal with RCA Records, finally distancing himself from the famed group, Entertainment Weekly reports.