Source: Telegraph
Chelsea manager Guus Hiddink criticised in Russia
Hiddink was officially appointed interim Chelsea coach until the end of the season yesterday, following the sacking of Luiz Felipe Scolari.[LNB]And the Dutchman will now attempt to balance four months of trying to revive Chelsea's Premier League challenge with getting Russia to the 2010 World Cup in South Africa.[LNB]Hiddink will reportedly earn £2.5 million for his 14 week stint at Stamford Bridge, to go with the £6m a season he receives from the Russian Football Union.[LNB]However, there are fears in Russia that managing Chelsea will impact on his international committments, and former national team coach Anatoli Byshovets said: "In combining the two jobs I see more negative than positive aspects.[LNB]"I know it from my own experience. I managed the Russian national team and Zenit St Petersburg at the same time. [LNB]"It was a complicated situation as I had to constantly switch my attention from one team to another. It was impossible to concentrate on achieving any specific goals.[LNB]"No Russia coach who has worked with the national team previously was given so many privileges or enjoyed such special conditions as Hiddink does now.[LNB]"The Russian Football Union is effectively allowing him to neglect our national team by leaving it in the hands of his assistants."[LNB]Another Russian coach, Gadji Gadzhiev, is equally concerned, and has questioned how it was allowed to happen.[LNB]He said: "Before he was able to focus solely on managing Russia. Now, if Guus is going to combine his work with us with the Chelsea job, he'll need to split himself in two. He cannot concentrate properly on one team.[LNB]"We live in the real world. We shouldn't try to turn anyone into a god. That includes Hiddink. Do you think England, France, Italy or Spain would allow this?"[LNB]Even former Manchester United winger Andrei Kanchelskis, who played for Russia, believes it is a mistake, adding: "To combine the two posts is wrong.[LNB]"It will inevitably be bad for the Russia side. A serius manager should only concentrate on one team."[LNB]
