Guus Hiddink says Chelsea v Manchester United is still a big occasion

Hiddink returned to Stamford Bridge for his second spell as Chelsea caretaker in December following Jose Mourinho’s sacking, but the veteran Dutch coach was also offered the chance of taking a job with a team in the cash-rich Chinese league.

But in the event that the gap gets too wide for Chelsea to close in on, Hiddink should turn his attention to the Champions League itself as a Champions League win would be an immediate ticket into the competition next season.

“You know the recent history of this club”.

However, the 25-year-old looked to be doing all he can to prove himself worthy of a starting spot for Sunday’s game.

We have seen this before only for Manchester United to revert to type, but their 3-0 win over Stoke City, a side that thoroughly outclassed them at the nadir of their form just after Christmas, on Tuesday will have provided some hope that there are brighter and more entertaining times ahead.

Chelsea are 13th in the Premier League table, eight points above the relegation zone, following the 0-0 draw with Watford on Wednesday night. “Say we had 65, 67 and 70 per cent possession, but there were opponents who said “we don’t care how much possession you have, we have the score on our side”. This will be a good game, and I fancy Chelsea to edge this one”. This is normal for me but he needs more physical fitness. But with Chelsea’s struggles and even with their change in fortune under Hiddink I think that Chelsea have been very lucky at times in this unbeaten run and I am not convinced by Chelsea. If things work out, the Blues get a reasonably cheap and talented forward; if it doesn’t, they can just send him back from whence he came. We want him fit and don’t want to risk injury for this tough league.

Hiddink confirmed that Loic Remy will not be available for Sunday’s match as he continues to battle a persistent thigh injury, but Chelsea expect the Frenchman to return to full training next week. “We like to pressure him but we must be careful not to go over the top”.

“He played his last game in November then had a holiday because it is a different season”.