Back as manager, Hiddink says it’s ‘not easy to fix’ Chelsea

Hiddink has not ruled out helping Chelsea identify Mourinho’s long-term successor, but refused to be drawn on whether Didier Drogba would join his back-room staff.

“I saw the game against Sunderland, there were some sloppy moments but in general they looked like they were enjoying it very much”.

He said: “On Tuesday I talked fully to the squad and of course we talked a little bit about the past and the reasons why I am here and why we are down”. Seeing rumours linking high-profile prospects such as Ruben Loftus-Cheek and Charly Musonda to moves away from Stamford Bridge, many Chelsea fans voiced their discontent at the lack of chances being given to these players in the first-team.

Wenger and Mourinho have shared a frosty relationship in recent seasons, with the former Chelsea boss famously branding Wenger a “specialist in failure” at a news conference past year. “I like teams to have a spine from central defence, to midfield to attack to have strong leaders who can coach throughout”. “So I like to look forward”.

The ex-Russia and Netherlands manager could help Chelsea chase Mourinho’s successor, with the likes of Pep Guardiola, Diego Simeone and Antonio Conte in the frame.

Asked specifically whether the club are in negotiations to take Drogba now, Hiddink added: “The official process I don’t know, but I spoke openly from the bottom of the heart that such impact players can be huge for the club”. But then we’ll see.

But things happen in football like they happened here and people make decisions which they must take, and I go on as I am asked.

“I worked at that time with a lot of love for the club and to work with the players is great”. You relax as a team and get a wake-up call.

“Theoretically, I shouldn’t be here, halfway into the season”, he said.

“I’m glad to be back, it was a few years ago when I came here in a similar situation”.

The ESPN FC panel weigh in on what we should expect from Chelsea in the second half of the season. As long as I feel desire, as long as I feel passion [to do the job]. Everybody is sad about what happened because we haven’t played well and won games, so we have to react and do better.