Hiddink eyes Blues leaving present

18 May 2009 07:16
The Dutchman ended his final home match in temporary charge of the Blues with a 2-0 win over Blackburn on Sunday. Hiddink, appointed in February, has steered the Blues back into the top three, as well as within touching distance of the Champions League final, but is set to return to his full-time post with the Russian national team at the end of the season. That, though, did not stop his name being chanted by the Chelsea faithful throughout the Blackburn game, and Hiddink was given a guard of honour by the players following their post-match lap of appreciation. "It was nice appreciation from the crowd, and to be honest, I did not expect this when I am here for relatively short period to do my job, so thanks," said Hiddink, whose team won through a fourth-minute header by Florent Malouda and Nicolas Anelka's 18th Barclays Premier League goal. "We enjoyed the atmosphere, but the season is not over for me and the team. We would love to finish it off with the FA Cup." The Dutch coach is set to return to his Russian "adventure" following the Wembley date with Everton on May 30, determined to honour in full the contract with the national federation. However, the Hiddink - who took Holland, South Korea and most recently Australia to the latter stages of the World Cup - admitted it was only natural to wonder if he was making the right decision. "I have many second thoughts. Sometimes third thoughts. You cannot avoid them," he said. "You do not have a button to turn them off, but that is how it is. "When I have to leave and I see the reaction the players, how they have worked, I feel a kind of sadness. "That is for sure, but that is the reality." Hiddink accepted whoever comes in - with AC Milan coach Carlo Ancelotti reported to be the top target - must look to refresh the Chelsea squad to keep them competitive. "When you want to compete, you have to renew your squad almost every year," he said. "For the FA Cup, Carling Cup, Premier League and Champions League, you need a squad of real depth in quality. "If you want to compete for first position, you need to be able to use a lot of players. "You have to analyse the squad. The players who are now 'ageing', around 30, they need also to be every now and then released [relieved]." Hiddink, 62, refused to be drawn on his own future past 2010. "I am not the youngest any more. Sometimes you must now when to stop," he said, "but as long as I feel energetic that I can deliver and as long as I receive the energy from the group and the players, then I can continue. "One year ago, I would not have thought that I would have managed Chelsea, so I cannot predict what happens after the Russia adventure." Blackburn, meanwhile, have a completely different objective to Chelsea, having secured their top-flight status a couple of weeks ago under Sam Allardyce, appointed in December last year. "A club like ours tries its very best and, if we can get in the top half and beat the big boys now and again, that is where we lie," he said. Allardyce's former club Newcastle, whom he left in January 2008, now look set for relegation. The former Bolton boss reflected: "It was an opportunity I took a risk taking, and it didn't pay off. "I wanted to go to a big club and wanted to be successful, but was not given that opportunity. "Now I am at Blackburn enjoying my life again, where I should be, and hopefully I can bring success like I did at Bolton."

Source: Team_Talk