Football Talk - Hiddink gets to work at Chelsea - 13/02/09
New Chelsea manager Guus Hiddink believes the Blues are still capable of winning the Premier League this season. If leaders Manchester United beat Fulham next Wednesday, Chelsea will be 10 points behind with just 13 games remaining.
"There's a 10-point difference but things can happen in the final stages of the championship," said Hiddink. "The players are very committed, but sometimes you can have a little bit different approach to get even more efficiency out of the players."
"I want to see these results as soon as possible. I don't like to give anyone much time, not me and not the players, to get out a little bit more than sometimes they think they can bring. The 61-year-old Dutchman made his comments to Chelsea TV after being shown around the club's training ground on Thursday. He was greeted at Cobham by chief executive Peter Kenyon and met some of the players in the treatment room. He then accompanied chairman Bruce Buck out on to the training field to watch the main session, led by Ray Wilkins. They were later joined by Abramovich and director Eugene Tenenbaum.
Brought in following the sacking of Luiz Felipe Scolari on Monday, Hiddink, who has taken the job until the end of the season, is confident Chelsea can still challenge for three trophies this season. "The FA Cup is there, the Champions League and also the league. All the three roads are very important," he said. "I have to live, as soon as possible, in the depth of the club. 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."
Of his vision for Chelsea, Hiddink said: "I am not that cautious. I think you must be more organised in every part of the pitch but I think, especially in England, they like the approach of attacking the team. "I see what is available, I see what suits and I see the culture and what is demanded. Sometimes you can have a little bit different approach to get even more efficiency out of the players. That is where I am aiming at and if you add those individuals together and make a team, then everyone can bring a little bit more."
Hiddink will watch Chelsea's FA Cup fifth-round tie at Watford from the stands before officially taking charge on Monday. Hiddink will continue to lead Russia's World Cup qualification campaign at the same time as attempting to revive Chelsea's domestic campaign. Russia's next qualifying games are against Azerbaijan on 28 March and Liechtenstein on 1 April.
Hiddink initially said he only intended to coach Chelsea until the end of the season as a favour to club owner Roman Abramovich. But he has now hinted he may remain at Stamford Bridge.
"What happens after May is unclear," said Hiddink, who has a contract with the Russian FA until the end of the 2010 World Cup in South Africa. "It's difficult to make it work because the Premier League is challenging."
Chelsea captain John Terry believes Hiddink could be persuaded to stay at the club if his tenure is successful. "We have six months to turn things around and if we do he will probably get offered the full-time job," said the defender. "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."
Hiddink also revealed that he is unlikely to make any significant changes to Chelsea's existing backroom staff. "I'm not in favour of bringing in my group of people," he said. "I like to adapt to what is required, make an analysis and if something is needed we can do it. I'm looking forward to having the co-operation of Ray Wilkins."
