Chelsea have quality to climb back up under Hiddink: Courtois

Meanwhile, Hiddink watched on alongside owner Roman Abramovich and former striker Didier Drogba, after his return to the club he led to FA Cup success in 2009 was rubber-stamped shortly before the game.

“I have to be honest, I saw so many poor performances in the first half that I could have changed nearly all the outfield players”, he said.

Guus Hiddink returned to Chelsea for a second spell as manager today, hired until the end of the season with the tough task of turning round the struggling Premier League champions following Jose Mourinho’s firing.

Holland, who is expected to remain at the club under the Dutchman, took charge of the side alongside Eddie Newton for the clash with Sunderland, where goals from Branislav Ivanovic, Pedro and Oscar secured all three points.

The Ivorian was present at the 3-1 win over Sunderland on Saturday and the new manager has said that he intends to involve Drogba if at all possible.

“I’ve been able to get to know him a bit deeper than that, and he’s an exceptional person that it’s been a privilege and a pleasure to work with”. We have received many letters and emails from fans over the last few weeks expressing a variety of views.

Allardyce enjoyed a good spell after taking over from Dick Advocaat this season and was averaging a point a game, but recently results have dropped off.

“I’m trying to think of the last time it happened in this country”.

Sources in Spain say he is a surprise inclusion in Chelsea’s list of candidates to be the long-term replacement for Jose Mourinho and even suggest contact has already been made. If we can go on a good run and climb the table over Christmas, then who knows?

“Obviously we don’t play to lose but we are responsible as well, we have top players so we shouldn’t be 15th in the league, ‘ said the Belgian custodian”.

He told the Echo: “If Mourinho was still there, I still think we would have lost”. We’re in this position because one or two have performed and the rest haven’t unfortunately.

“I’ve seen it before that he can come in and shake things up in a positive way and move forward”.