Dutchman Guus Hiddink has said he is ‘glad to back’ at Chelsea after being hired as caretaker manager to replace Jose Mourinho, who was sacked at the
ADVERTISEMENTDutchman Guus Hiddink has said he is ‘glad to back’ at Chelsea after being hired as caretaker manager to replace Jose Mourinho, who was sacked at the weekend following the club’s dire first half to the season.
Hiddink will manage Chelsea until the end of the season and takes over with the Londoners in 15th place, three points off the drop zone.
At his first press conference in his second stint in charge Hiddink said: “I am glad to be back and it is a few years ago that I was here in a similar situation and try to help out when I was asked to do so. … we have to show to ourselves, to the players themselves, to the club but also to fans inside Chelsea, but also abroad, that the team has a big desire to wash away the last half year and go up to the next coming games”
Hiddink’s first spell at Stamford Bridge was also on a temporary basis when he took over from Luiz Felipe Scolari for the final three months of the 2008/2009 campaign.
But in that time he led the side to FA Cup glory, the Champions League semi-finals and third place finish in the Premier League.
The 69-year-old’s first game in charge this time around is against Watford at home on Boxing Day followed by a trip to Manchester United two days later.