Source: SKY_Sports
Blood and Guus
Chelsea moved swiftly to appoint Guus Hiddink this week and with good reason - the longer they stayed in limbo the harder it would have been for someone to come in and turn things around.[LNB] But I for one am not going to go overboard about the Dutchman's credentials for the job; you won't find me jumping on any band-wagon claiming he is the greatest manager in the world.[LNB]Make no mistake - he's a very, very good coach. I remember watching his PSV team in 2004 when they came so close to reaching the Champions League final before losing narrowly to AC Milan and thinking how good they were.[LNB]He did a respectable job for South Korea in 2002 - but then host nations generally rise to the occasion - and he did ok during his time with Australia.[LNB]But I thought Russia were pretty ordinary in the European Championships last year; they arrived in Austria & Switzerland with a huge reputation but in the end didn't deliver.[LNB]TranslateSo Chelsea have appointed a manager who is friendly with Roman Abramovich, has huge experience at national level, and has proved he can handle big-name players.[LNB]In my view, Luiz Felipe Scolari's CV is probably every bit as good as Gus Hiddink's.[LNB]Of course, Hiddink enjoyed European Cup success in 1988 - but that's a long time ago - and has won Dutch titles but how does that translate to Premier League success? Not easily, in my book.[LNB]The Premier League, as Scolari found out, is a totally different ball-game. I'm not saying Hiddink won't revive Chelsea because I've huge respect for the man.[LNB]But he is joining a club that is impatient, that has players who are capable of sniping and back-biting when they are not flavour of the month. The squad needs guidance and discipline and Hiddink has to say 'I'm the gaffer and we do it my way'.[LNB]One advantage he has over Scolari is that he will be able to walk onto the training ground and dictate what's going on to everybody. Conversing in the language of the league you are playing in is so important and there's no doubt Scolari struggled there.[LNB]FocusChelsea have now bought a bit of time to have a look around and try and persuade Hiddink, if he does a decent job, to stay or get someone lined up who can take over right at the end of the season so he can prepare Chelsea for the next one.[LNB]I've no doubt Hiddink would have looked upon Abramovich's approach more sympathetically than he would have done from any other club because of the Russian's contribution to his national side; whether that's healthy or not doesn't really matter.[LNB]What does is his ability to steady the ship because there's not an awful lot wrong with Chelsea.[LNB]If I was a player at Chelsea now my sole focus would be 'I don't care who the manager is or how long he will be here - we need to start getting results. I've got to play better, focus for the last few months of the season because we are getting to the sharp end now. [LNB]'The Champions League is about to kick in, if we are not careful we are going to drop out of the Premier League top four.'[LNB]I think that's enough to focus any footballer.[LNB]SupportTheir sole concern should be the club, not who is manager, and that's what's wrong with a lot of the modern game. Most clubs have cliques in the dressing room yet people get on with it - but not in Chelsea's case, it seems.[LNB]The players have been really disappointing and I feel a little bit for Scolari because I don't think he's had the support he should have had - at boardroom or pitch level.[LNB]As I said earlier this week, the one thing that will stop Chelsea becoming a really big club on a consistent basis is their lack of managerial continuity.[LNB]The next three months will be extremely interesting at Chelsea and I will be fascinated to see which way it goes.[LNB]
