Hiddink set to replace José
Dutch coach like to take over at Chelsea
GUUS Hiddink is “absolutely perfect ” to step in again as Chelsea ’ s saviour following José Mourinho ’ s sacking, former Blues assistant boss Ray Wilkins said.
The 69-year-old Dutchman has emerged as a leading contender to take over the ailing Premier League champions on an interim basis.
Hiddink played a similar role in 2009, appointed after the dismissal of Luiz Felipe Scolari, steering Chelsea to FA Cup glory.
“As an interim manager, he would love the challenge, I ’ m sure,” Wilkins, whose most recent stint with Chelsea ’ s backroom team ended in 2010, told talk SPORT .
“He would be the one person I would say would be absolutely perfect to come in to the end of the season and straighten them out.”
Mourinho ’ s tumultuous second spell at Chelsea ended on Thursday “by mutual consent ” with the club ’ s technical director Michael Emenalo revealing that squad disharmony was a significant factor.
Chelsea ’ s disastrous start to the season prompted owner Roman Abramovich to end the deal, with the club saying it was “in the best interests of both parties to go our separate ways ”.
Nine defeats in 16 games saw the reigning Premier League titleholders slither to within a point of the relegation zone. Emenalo said Chelsea had had to act.
Wilkins feels the struggling squad must take their share of responsibility.
“I love José and he ’ s done a fantastic job for Chelsea,” the former England midfielder said. “He ’ ll go elsewhere and do a wonderful job for someone.
“I honestly do believe the players need to take a lot of blame for this as well because they really haven ’ t performed. The only player that ’ s performed on any sort of consistent level is Willian.
“With the ball, more often than not there ’ s no problem. But without the ball they ’ ve not done half as much as they should have done. They ’ ve not worked hard enough.”
While Hiddink could fill the gap in the Chelsea dugout in the short term, permanent options include longstanding target Pep Guardiola, Atletico Madrid ’ s Diego Simeone, Italy coach Antonio Conte, and ex-Chelsea boss Carlo Ancelotti.
“The club is working vigorously and actively to make sure that the situation with regards to a managerial appointment is taken care of as soon as possible,” Emenalo said.
Hull boss Steve Bruce was saddened by Mourinho ’ s departure and reckons the former Porto, Inter Milan and Real Madrid coach should have been given more time.
“What chance have we got, if people like Mourinho are getting sacked? ” he said.
Chelsea said that Mourinho “will always remain a much-loved, respected and significant figure at Chelsea ” and “will always be warmly welcomed back to Stamford Bridge ”.
He was previously sacked by Abramovich in 2007 and his departure on Thursday came just seven months after he led Chelsea to a league and League Cup double. – AFP