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'The door is a little bit open' says Hiddink as Chelsea
go second
Dominic Fifield at Stamford Bridge
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Chelsea's manager Guus Hiddink during the
1-0 win over Manchester City that saw his side move into second
place in the Premier League table. Photograph: Sang
Tan/AP
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Guus Hiddink believes "tension" has returned
to the title race after his Chelsea side joined Liverpool in moving to
within four points of Manchester United at the top following the champions'
worst home league defeat in 15 years.
The Londoners' deceptively comfortable victory over Manchester City yesterday,
secured courtesy of Michael Essien's early goal, lifted them back up to
second place and above the Merseysiders on goal difference, with Hiddink
admitting the weekend's results had "opened the door a little bit"
to the chasing pack. Chelsea may be without the injured Deco for the run-in,
the Portugal international having suffered a relapse to a hamstring problem,
yet are buoyant after a fourth successive Premier League win under the
Dutchman.
"This is a boost," said Hiddink. "Of course, if United's
lead was just four points it would be very close, but they do still have
that game in hand. But it's clear that, after Saturday's unexpected result,
the tension has come back in the league. If we want to keep tracking them,
we have to keep on winning. That'll give tension to the end of the season,
which is good for everyone. The door is a little bit open.
"Let's be honest, every now and then you get a defeat you don't expect.
Sometimes you don't expect it at home because you have a beautiful record
there then, all of a sudden, it happens as it did for United yesterday.
But they're a very experienced team. Let's see how they react. It's not
the first time that its happened, and the big teams always react. But
it was a blow for them. Now it depends on their calmness. But, when you
are in the drivers seat and someone else is coming up behind and you can
see them in your rear view mirror, you can get a little bit nervous."
Hiddink concurred with Steven Gerrard's assessment that, if nothing else,
Liverpool's rampant 4-1 victory at Old Trafford had proved United can
be rendered vulnerable, even at home. "In the Premier League, many
teams have the capacity to win there," he said before admitting that
Deco, who hobbled off four minutes before half-time, will probably miss
the remainder of the campaign.
"I have my doubts to be honest that he will play again this season,"
said Hiddink, although he described a late knee injury to Didier Drogba
as "not a big problem".
Guardian.co.uk,
15 March 2009
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