Guus Hiddink says ailing Premier League champions Chelsea in relegation battle

Chelsea remain in a battle against relegation, Guus Hiddink has warned, adding that the club’s uncertain future is complicating attempts to bring in reinforcements this month.

Chelsea interim manager Guus Hiddink addressed the media ahead of tomorrow’s Premier League clash with Everton.

Chelsea, who romped to the title last season eight points clear at the top, are 14th in the table after 21 games, six points above the relegation zone.

“We all like to look forward and on the top, but we also can’t be unrealistic when we are just six points from the line of relegation”.

Fourteenth and 11th in the Premier League table respectively, both sides will be looking to improve their standing considerably over the final 17 games of the season.

“So we have to work hard and be very concentrated to gather our points so that we can step up”.

“I hope in the upcoming week he will have full training sessions and then we can decide if he can join us for the Arsenal game next weekend. The games are going to come thick and fast now, we’ve got Chelsea away on Saturday, so it’ll be an interesting couple of weeks or so”.

He said: “No – on strikers I repeat now we have Diego Costa, Remy back and some youngsters who can fill up the gap so we are not in for that [a striker] at the moment”.

The acquisitions of Pedro and Baba Rahman in the summer have had little impact at Stamford Bridge this term, meaning things have gotten a little stale. Nevertheless, he should control it. He wasn’t out of order but he was on the edge. Obviously that will give the American number 1 great confidence in a season that has seen him make a few mistakes. The opponents like to provoke, it’s normal in a men’s game.

“I was a plumber and a builder and I checked the wall out. It was an expression of frustration, not winning, no big deal”.

The Dutchman confirmed a double blow with the news that Eden Hazard is still unavailable for selection while Radamel Falcao also remains on the sidelines through injury.