Hiddink names the midfielder who is Chelsea’s ‘ideal player’

Last season, he was playing in the third tier with MK Dons.

Crystal Palace have already beaten Chelsea once this season, with Joel Ward getting a late victor at Stamford Bridge in August in what was Mourinho’s 100th home league game.

“There is a long way to go, mathematically the possibility of Champions League is still there”.

Willian has arguably been the lone shining light of Chelsea’s dismal campaign to date and he offered another scintillating display of his quality by thumping in his eighth of the campaign in all competitions from long range with an hour played.

They are blessed by nature with a big quality but they have to know that when things are not going well, you have to look for the causes.

“It’s a new year, new start and we have to keep winning”. And if you think that you can do it just on your quality, given by talent and nature, then this league will kill you.

Chelsea’s Obi Mikel, Willian, Zouma and Ivanovic applaud fans at the end of the match.

Chelsea lost Eden Hazard to a groin problem in the early stages, but took the lead in the 29th minute when Costa cut the ball back for Oscar to sweep home.

Aaron Lennon volleyed Everton ahead against the run of play against his old club but exciting young midfielder Dele Alli leveled for Tottenham just before the break. The team have struggled to defend their Premier League title, sitting just above the relegation zone heading into Sunday’s match at Selhurst Park against Crystal Palace.

“When you’ve got a very good team and the confidence wasn’t what it was you’ve got more of a chance but when they take the lead their confidence goes up”.

“But hats off to Chelsea, they were very, very good, a lot of their star players turned up and delivered”.

“He can recover his radar, he reads the game very well, he knows where the strength of the opponent is and knows how to combat that”.

“A player who can defend so smoothly is handsome to see”, Hiddink said.

“I shouldn’t have really put him (Sako) on the bench, but needed to have him there just to give us that belief, that’s where we at with so many key players missing”. Alan Pardew has been arguably the best manager in the year since he left Newcastle to move to Selhurst Park, transforming this team nearly beyond all recognition.

“When they got the goal you could see their spirit lift and ours diminish”, said Pardew.