Guus Hiddink remembers his own 'Drogba moment'

09 May 2009 18:56
Even the Chelsea manager's placid good humour, his Dutch equanimity was put to the test by the manner of the result, but in the heat of it all, Hiddink's conduct was exemplary. [LNB]Perhaps his defence of Didier Drogba was excessive on the night, but he has qualified that since. However, he has refused to go the reactionary way and outright condemn his player. Hiddink remembers his own "Drogba moment", when his placid nature was goaded over the edge. [LNB] Related ArticlesArsenal v Chelsea: Game ZoneFive things Chelsea must do to beat Barcelona in second legChelsea striker Didier Drogba to escape punishment from club for referee rantChelsea cant afford lapses against Barcelona, says Guus HiddinkChelsea v Barcelona: Didier Drogba says sorry but career under threatBarcelona v Chelsea: Guus Hiddink?s game of bluff pays off for Chelsea"I was an attacking midfield player and in one game I got personal marking the whole game," Hiddink explained. "In the second half I forgot myself when I was pulled and felt the nails in my back and being kicked and everything. [LNB]"So I got very frustrated and then, I remember quite well, I made a vicious tackle – ball involved but I hit him and he had a rather severe injury. After that I went to see him with a box of chocolates a few days after. That was in the late 1960s, early 70s. I regret very much what I did. [LNB]"I've felt injustice in other circumstances also and I can react rather strongly but I've learned to control that. But somehow it has to come out. What I try to do is something physical. [LNB]"On Wednesday I had a lot of friends of mine there, Dutch coaches, and we had a nice glass of wine afterwards in my apartment and I smoked a nice cigar. I'm not a drinker – first a cappuccino and then at 3 or 4 o'clock a nice glass of wine. When I'm frustrated by not having achieved I don't want to burden others with my frustration or emotion." [LNB]Drogba obviously felt no such compulsion, unaware that, while delivering his verdict of Tom Henning Ovrebo at the TV camera, he was providing apposite comment on his own behaviour. Still, he has been the player who has improved most radically since Hiddink's arrival and, as ever, the Dutchman is keen to place Drogba's behaviour in the right context. [LNB]"Since I have come here he has had a good influence on the team, had a good influence on everybody, efficiency, production. Being now where we are, I can be very satisfied with his performance. But with what happened on Wednesday I'm not happy and he's not happy either. He overreacted after the game but before that it was perfect and it's still ok – but rejecting what he did."[LNB]The emotions of Wednesday night have only strengthened the bond Hiddink has so rapidly developed with this squad. While he is standing firm that he cannot combine working for the club with his Russian duties, he is hopefully of a future return to what he calls a "beautiful club to work at", possibly as a technical director. [LNB]"I have respected working in an interested way in the past weeks and months," he said. "There shall always be a relationship in the future, whether it's official or unofficial I don't know. It's impossible at this moment to say. At this moment I keep on working, I like to be involved with football."[LNB]After watching four strong penalty appeals turned down last week, Hiddink has said that football should follow rugby and cricket and use TV replays to help determine the big decisions. [LNB]"In other sports vital moments in American Football and rugby they have this possibility," Hiddink said. "They wait five seconds for the video ref and then they make the decision. It could be done on key moments – not stopping the game all the time but on key moments. [LNB]"You have to regulate those moments that are key moments and have an influence on the game." Hiddink also believes UEFA have to review their inflexible policy on appeals. Both Darren Fletcher, of Manchester United, and Eric Abidal, of Barcelona, will miss the Champions League final in Rome after being wrongfully dismissed. "There's no right of appeal and I think they have to reconsider," he said.[LNB]Time for TV replays[LNB]Guus Hiddink has been rightly applauded for the composure he demonstrated in the aftermath of Wednesday night's dramatic Champions League elimination against Barcelona. Even the Chelsea manager's placid good humour, his Dutch equanimity was put to the test by the manner of the result, but in the heat of it all, Hiddink's conduct was exemplary.[LNB] 

Source: Telegraph