Guus Hiddink Challenges Players, Does Not Rule Out January Signings
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New Chelsea FC boss Guus Hiddink sat down with the press for the first time since being appointed Blues boss for the second time.
Due to Christmas and the festive season, the round of pre-match press conferences for Saturday’s slate of Premier League games took place earlier than usual. Guus Hiddink spoke to the media this afternoon ahead of Chelsea’s Boxing Day clash with Watford.
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This marked the first time that the new manager interacted with the press since his role was confirmed shortly before Chelsea kicked off against Sunderland. The Dutchman did not beat around any proverbial bush, immediately stating that the players have to sort themselves out.
"You relax as a team and get a wake-up call…I want everyone to look themselves in the mirror, for not just a second but for a long time."
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While it is encouraging to see Hiddink get straight to the point with an underwhelmingly and poorly committed Chelsea squad, this is nothing that has not already been said this season. Whether it be Jose Mourinho, experts, pundits or the fans themselves, everyone has been urging the stars to get their act together.
It has not worked yet, so there is no guarantee that it will now.
Hiddink further emphasised his point with a frank yet powerful statement.
"I shouldn’t be here halfway through the season."
No, he shouldn’t.
However, optimism should prevail with Hiddink yet to officially take charge of a game. Chelsea did indeed put in a markedly improved performance last weekend on the back of Mourinho’s sacking with the likes of Pedro and Oscar flicking the switch.
The Blues fans may have been insulted that such effort was lacking throughout the first bit of this campaign, but hopefully the angry scenes of last Saturday are now in the past. The well-noted protests from those in attendance were certainly justified, but with Chelsea in serious trouble everyone at the club should move on and become united once again.
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Meanwhile, with the January transfer window right around the corner, there has been much speculation regarding Chelsea’s potential moves in the market. It has been generally recognised that the Blues could do with a new signing to help them salvage the season and Hiddink failed to dismiss such talk.
"Let’s go into the next few games and we will see. First, I would like to get through the first few games."
While managers usually try to rule out potential arrivals in a bid to quash rumours and prevent fringe squad players from becoming upset, the Dutchman again was honest in his response.
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While this will send Blues fans into a frenzy over their transfer wishlists (we, in fact, put one together ourselves), the focus should be on the tricky fixture with Watford. Quique Sanchez Flores’s men are flying high at the moment and the West Londoners will need to have their wits about them if they are to get a result.
All quotes taken from BBC Sport.