Chelsea can still win title, insists Hiddink
Hiddink, who arrived at the club’s Cobham training ground to meet the first-team squad yesterday, also believes Chelsea have all the experience to reach the final of the Champions League.
Hiddink has taken on the job of coaching Chelsea until the end of the season following the sacking of Luiz Felipe Scolari on Monday.
The Russia boss will combine his international job with club duties at Stamford Bridge and although Manchester United could be 10 points clear of the Blues if they beat Fulham next week, Hiddink refuses to concede the title just yet.
“They are in several races, the FA Cup is there, the Champions League and also the league,” Hiddink said.
“There is a 10-point difference but if you look in the past of this league and other leagues as well, some things can happen during the final stages of the championship.
“All the three roads are very important. The next game against Watford, and then Aston Villa and Juventus, and then you go on the path of the Champions League, and that is so attractive. The club has the experience to go to the final.
“I am not just here to add to my experience with the club and Premier League, but also I want to see these results as soon as possible.’’
Hiddink only agreed to take on the job because of his close friendship with Chelsea owner Roman Abramovich.
But despite the speculation that he might want to remain in the post after the summer, Hiddink insists he has every intention of returning to get Russia to the 2010 World Cup finals.
“I have seen it here now and I felt the atmosphere already in a few hours, but what happens after May is clear because it is rather difficult to do the two jobs, and I have my obligations in Russia,” said Hiddink.
“It is rather difficult because the Premier League is very challenging. We can do it now because there are one or two games until June with the national team of Russia. That is why we said we can do it now, and we can do it full-hearted and committed.
While Hiddink is still dreaming on title success Blues midfielder Frank Lampard believes Chelsea’s top-four place in the Barclays Premier League is under threat and believes one of new manager Hiddink’s main tasks will be to secure a place among Europe’s elite next season.
Lampard is wary of Aston Villa sustaining the form that has taken them to third and put them in the hunt for a place in the Champions League, while Chelsea’s inconsistency has led to Luiz Felipe Scolari’s dismissal and Hiddink taking temporary charge.
“Of course it is under threat because that is the way football is,” midfielder Lampard said.
“If we drop enough points it will be under threat because there are teams behind us trying to push into our position so you should never be over-confident to say that position is not under threat.”
Skipper John Terry believes time is running out for Chelsea to stay in the title race, with Scolari leaving them seven points behind Manchester United having played a game more than the leaders.
“He (Hiddink) realises the situation we’re in, both him and the players have a very big job to do,” centre-back Terry said. “But if we don’t do it now we’re going to rule ourselves out of the title race.’’
“We are behind Manchester United and they have a game in hand. In the Champions League we have Juventus and they are going very well in the Italian League. We have Watford in the FA Cup which is a difficult game and they will be pleased with what’s been going on at our place for sure.”
Terry insists himself and vice-skipper Lampard backed Scolari 100%, amid suggestions other senior players were unhappy with the Brazilian.
Both players have thrown their support behind Hiddink, with Terry stating: “I like the fact that Guus Hiddink has stayed loyal to the Russia team. We have six months to turn things around and if we do he will probably get offered the full-time job.
“It is down to us to put in the performances and get results for him and then hopefully something can be done in the summer.”
The possibility of that happening looked encouraging after AC Milan boss Carlo Ancelotti insisted he wants to stay with the Italian giants.
“In the summer I met (Roman) Abramovich but I didn’t want to leave AC Milan,” he said. “The same thing happens now, I am not thinking about leaving.”
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