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HIDDINK PLAYING MIND GAMES
By Richard Bailey
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Hiddink - mental preparation. Photo
sportinglife.com
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Guus Hiddink has already played Chelsea's clash with Barcelona
through in his mind as the Blues prepare for the trip to the Nou Camp
on Tuesday.
The Dutchman insists that is normal practice before every game his teams
play as he goes over every potential pitfall in his head.
The Blues' temporary boss also admits playing right-back Jose Bosingwa
on the opposite side to fill the hole left by Ashley Cole's suspension
is his biggest headache.
Bosingwa will be pitted against Lionel Messi in the first leg of the Champions
League semi-final, a 'complex' task according to Hiddink.
Hiddink told The Sun: "You have to think ahead and I have played
Barcelona twice in my head.
"In my head, I have never lost a game in preparation. But you have
to focus a lot on the difficulty and the complexity of the job Bosingwa
has to do.
"In my opinion, Bosingwa is playing one of the most attractive players
in the world."
The Russian says playing against Barcelona is a lot different to playing
the likes of Manchester United and Liverpool in the Premier League.
"Although they like to attack, we like to attack as well, but when
you play Manchester United or Liverpool, it is a less controlled game
and can go either way. Like pinball," he added.
"When you play Liverpool or United or they play us, the pace of the
game can go up any second. Boom.
"But Barca are very smart. They can turn the pace of the game up
or down. You think you are in control and then all of a sudden they strike.
"They are skilful and have very good possession and can frustrate
a team by having possession.
"We must not get frustrated. If they score then we must have the
confidence that we can score at any moment."
Sportinglife.com,
27/04/09
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