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Hiddink promises to keep in touch
By Mark Fleming
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Photo: dailymail.co.uk
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Guus Hiddink will say goodbye to Stamford Bridge in Chelsea's
final home game of the season against Blackburn tomorrow, but the Dutchman
insisted yesterday it will only be "au revoir".
Hiddink, 62, knows his presence in the stands at Chelsea next season will
add to any pressure being felt by his successor, who is likely to be Milan
coach Carlo Ancelotti. Should the new man lose a couple of games in a
row, the last thing he will want to see will be Hiddink's chubby face
peering down from Roman Abramovich's box above the halfway line.
But Chelsea's temporary manager, who has overseen a revival of the club's
fortunes in his impressive three-month spell in charge, said the new manager
will just have to get used to it, as he fully intends to return to Chelsea
to watch the side whenever he likes.
Hiddink made it clear he would let his successor just get on with things
his way. But the veteran Dutch coach, who has the ear of Abramovich, will
continue to monitor how the new season unfolds at the Bridge, and the
manager will have to live with it.
Hiddink said: "I will visit every now and again as a visitor. I'm
not the kind of person to put a cloud on the club or the team. I like
to have contact every now and again, but just as a tourist. Unofficially.
Whoever my successor is can and must work very independently. He will
be a big manager, of course.
"You have to have a lot of confidence in what he's doing and, if
he's backed up by the club, it won't be a problem. I never had a problem
as a manager where previous managers have come back into the club and
made a problem. It depends upon your confidence in a manager. It's not
a threat. There's not intention there."
Hiddink leaves the club in reasonably good fettle, although the incoming
manager will have to fight for some money to spend on fresh, young legs
to supplement the club's old, seasoned heads. The Dutchman said the key
to Chelsea's season in 2009/2010 will be who they appoint as manager,
as the squad does not need much tweaking to become a side capable of winning
the Premier League.
"It is within them to do that," he said. "It's up to the
management, of course, and what they do next year. You have to renew every
year on some positions, or to add players to give the squad more depth
in quality.
"It is a well-organised club. Everyone has to perform here, but the
club is well organised. I have, except with one or two losses, enjoyed
it."
One night he did not enjoy was the Champions League exit at the hands
of Barcelona, a night marred by Didier Drogba's outburst at the final
whistle. Hiddink described his mood in the days following as the angriest
he has ever been. "I didn't want anyone coming near me for two days,"
he said.
He believes he leaves the club with an enhanced reputation for playing
creative football, despite the reaction to Chelsea's performance in the
goalless draw at Barcelona in the Champions League semi-final first leg.
But he really wants to leave Chelsea with a trophy, in the shape of the
FA Cup.
"What I hear now, not just in England but also outside, from France,
in Europe and outside Europe, is that people have watched Chelsea and
have appreciated the way they've promoted themselves," he said. "It's
nice to know, but on top of that it would be nice to have a bit of silverware."
Idependent.co.uk,
16 May 2009
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