Hiddink hits back at ‘dirty tricks’ taunt

GUUS HIDDINK has denied Chelsea were guilty of “dirty tricks” in their goalless draw with Barcelona in the Camp Nou.

Barcelona’s stars accused Chelsea of playing “dirty” in the first leg of their Champions League semi-final last Tuesday.

The Catalans were unhappy with some of the physical challenges from Chelsea’s players but, ahead of their derby clash with Fulham today, a defiant Hiddink insisted there was nothing nasty about their performance.

“It was a man’s match,” said Hiddink. “There were some collisions, but from either side. It’s a man’s game. They were controlling and dominating the game and I’d have liked to have had some more initiatives, but they controlled it.

“I don’t like to give in that easily. We were well organised and played well, defensively. I’d like to have taken a little bit more of the initiative, but they are a disciplined team as well.

“Under Pep Guardiola, they know how to defend firmly and their centre-back, too, isn’t afraid to make the game tough. On top of that, they can play.

“We would, of course, have liked to play more, but we were playing the best team in their concept of football.

“We didn’t want to play ‘anti-football’. This team has proved for several months, and at the beginning of the season, that they can play football.

“But we were not able to start a good attacking game in Barcelona – you can blame us for not starting well and they made it difficult.

“We don’t like to allow them to take the victory. This team has the character to fight as well.”

Chelsea winger Florent Malouda claimed Barcelona’s players were guilty of play-acting and went down too easily when challenged, but Hiddink defended the Spanish side.

“I don’t think there was a lot of acting,” added Hiddink. “There were some good fights, for instance between Daniel Alves and Florent Malouda.

“That’s normal friction. I don’t think there was a lot of theatre from either side. There were some good duels but I didn’t see many players rolling around. I don’t think it’s as bad as was suggested just after the game.”

This weekend Hiddink will again take the opportunity to rest some players against a Fulham side chasing a place in next season’s newly-formed Europa League.

The Premier League title may be out of Chelsea’s reach but Hiddink is determined to ensure they don’t drop too many points and allow fourth-placed Arsenal to catch them.

“There might be one or two changes,” confirmed Hiddink. “Regarding that, it’s not that we’re going to decrease the quality of the players coming in.

“We have players on the bench with the quality to perform well. Maybe one or two will start tomorrow. We take this game very seriously.

“Roy Hodgson is doing a tremendous job at Fulham. He’s one of the older managers, like me, who knows that the job is difficult.

“They’ve proved what can be achieved with a small squad for a prolonged period.”

Hodgson has found preparation for today’s clash difficult because he has no idea which players Hiddink will select.

“There is a chance the Chelsea management will look at this game and not want certain players to play three games in eight days and prioritise by giving someone a rest,” he said.

One player Hodgson would not mind being rested by the Blues is Frank Lampard, who has been in the form of his life under Hiddink.

“If it was as simple as just having to stop Lampard then most people would have six men on him and it would be no problem,” he said.

“They are a very good team in every respect, but if you can single out someone who for their attacking play is a catalyst, and who has scored as many goals as he has over the last four or five years, then he is a magnificent player.

“When he is in form and playing well then you have a problem because it’s not easy to stop players of that quality.

“We know the quality of their players and that they’re very good, but the only problem is your players have to be good enough to stop them.”