Hiddink has Chelsea targets

Paul Merson is backing Chelsea to make a winning start to Guus Hiddink’s reign as interim manager against Watford at Stamford Bridge on Saturday.

But it’s all gone wrong for the Portuguese.

“A long time ago, I was subbed, even as captain”. But they are into the last 16 of the Uefa Champions League.

In a bid to disrupt the link-up of Deeney and Ighalo, Hiddink replaced Cesc Fabregas with John Obi Mikel for the second half.

Inheriting a team just two places off the relegation zone – no matter how misleading that may seem – will have made him aware of that, and though Chelsea possess the talent to finish considerably higher, his players’ confidence remains fragile.

“I think he can focus on what he is able to do”. Drogba represents the real core of the club.

With the score level, Eden Hazard was tripped by Valon Behrami.

“It’s hard to judge why they weren’t performing in the past”. After all, Chelsea now have a manager who knows the club and knows how to make it successful, a manager who has experience dealing with big players and big personalities, and a manager who is well-known for his man-management capabilities. Additionally, Chelsea are undefeated on Boxing Day since 2003, and with fresh vitality injected in the team by the managerial change, that trend could continue.

He may not be a tactical genius like Mourinho, but that’s not what the players need for the rest of the season.

Jose is a victor, but the appetite of “win at all costs”, poking the dearly departed Barcelona coach Tito Vilanova in the eye, the insinuation by Hazard that they were instructed to feign injury, the lack of faith in the Youth, Nathan Ake, Loftus-Cheek all contributed to his fate. Terry, who has just turned 35, has looked diminished and the skipper might not survive the cull at the end of the season.

“I’ve worked with Diego for a few days, and in the past I’ve seen him on television. The only thing is at the moment is that he’s playing in Montreal”. “We understand his attachment, but our objective is to have him back for another season”, Montreal tweeted. However, he failed to deliver what was expected of him and was sacked by the Dutch FA, after he left the nation third in their ultimately unsuccessful effort to qualify for Euro 2016.