Guus effect at Chelsea opens door to Allegri
Guus Hiddink’s easy- going charm has left its impression on players and directors at Chelsea despite the first defeat of his second spell at stamford Bridge.
Hiddink’s arrival soothed sores inside a camp riven by ‘palpable discord’, in the words of the club’s technical director Michael Emenalo. in 70 days at the club he has ‘settled the ship’, according to midfielder John Mikel Obi, just as he did seven years ago.
‘Players feel free to play, free to have responsibility and thrive on responsibility but do it in a very relaxed way, which is sometimes what the players need,’ added Mikel, who has played for eight Chelsea managers, two of them twice.
Already there are echoes of 2009 when players serenaded Hiddink in the Wembley dressing room with a chorus of: ‘We want you to stay’, the terrace song which was the soundtrack to Chelsea’s FA Cup triumph.
The 69-year-old dutchman does not expect to stay beyond the end of this season but he has reconnected with owner Roman Abramovich and his influence is set to extend end in other ways. Abrammovich will listen to his s thoughts on the appointment of a permanent successor and try to keep him within his circle of advisers when his tenure is over.
His influence addsds weight to the idea that hat Massimiliano Allegrii has emerged as one of the top targets. in italy there is a growing feeling that Allegri will leave Juventus at the end of this season. The 48-year-old was hurt by the angry reaction to Juve’s poor start to this season, months after winning the italian double and reaching the Champions League final, in which his team were beaten by Barcelona. He felt the club failed to protect him from the fans’ fury.
The relationship is damaged, possibly irreparably so, and despite assurances from the club, his future is dominating the news agenda. Allegri has been studying English for two years, has made no secret of his admiration for the Premier League and likes the idea of a new challenge.
His affable manner has been likened to that of Carlo Ancelotti, whom Abramovich was keen to lure back to Chelsea before it was confirmed he was replacing Pep Guardiola at Bayern. Allegri has proved capable of healthy communication at board level and is a dignified public face for the club, while connectingconnec well with players. ThThere has been contact witwith those representing CChelsea in a recruitment process led by director Marina Granovskaia. diego simeone and Antonio Conte were others on tthe shortlist to be ccontacted. ssimeone may not be so easy to prise from AtletiAtletico Madrid, but Conte is determdetermined to move back into club football after leading italy into Euro 2016.
He is seen by many as a perfect fit for Chelsea but he will not be short of offers, with both Milan clubs interested in his services, not to mention the possibility of an emotional return to Juventus if they part with Allegri.
Like his successor at Juve, Conte has been learning English, taking an intensive language course in the south of England last year.
He was acclaimed for restoring Juventus to the top of italian football, winning the double in his first season and the league title in each of his three seasons there until the summer of 2014. Conte is intense and obsessive about his job. His training sessions are demanding and, with his brooding presence and decorated playing career, he doesn’t tolerate nonsense from big-ego players.
He spends hours drilling the team on tactics and a former player said one season working under Conte was like three under another coach.
There are similarities to Mourinho and, while Abramovich may be wary of employing another confrontational front-man, he will be aware of Conte’s ability to build a balanced team and provide it with personality.
The Chelsea team crafted a decade ago by Mourinho has endured remarkably well but these are its last vestiges. The 2-1 defeat at Paris saint-Germain on Tuesday was notable for the absence of John Terry, Petr Cech, didier drogba and Frank Lampard, the four pillars of that original team.
For the first time in years at a big match, none was present in the dressing room in any capacity.
Terry is set for the exit and with doubts over the long-term futures of stars such as diego Costa and Eden Hazard, this will be a summer of reconstruction.
Regardless of which way Abramovich jumps, he will appreciate the wisdom and calming influence of Hiddink.