Hiddink in talks with Chelsea – paper

A glum-looking John Terry was among the players who were pictured arriving at Chelsea‘s Cobham training ground on Friday morning, a day after Jose Mourinho was sensationally sacked by the club.

The task facing Hiddink is more onerous than the last time he took over when Chelsea were fourth in the Premier League, seven points off the leaders, Manchester United.

The firm made the man who led Chelsea to the 2009 FA Cup their 1/5 jolly after Mourinho’s demise was confirmed on Thursday afternoon.

If Hiddink does attend the Sunderland game, he is likely to watch it from Roman Abramovich’s private box.

The Chelsea board was due to meet to discuss the manager’s position on Wednesday and the club’s hierarchy was also drawing up a list of potential replacements.

“The results are not good.

There obviously seems to be a palpable discord between manager and players, and we feel it was time to act”, Emenalo said.

Few could have foreseen Chelsea’s decline this season, especially as Mourinho was rewarded for the title with a new four-year contract in August.

Bruce added: “You hear he’s lost the dressing room”.

Sky’s Sports Correspondent Paul Kelso said it is understood Hiddink will be in charge until the end of the season, at which point Chelsea will look for a long-term successor to Mourinho.

“It is hard for me to give my opinion about a different club, I can only say I am very sad and shocked because it was a big shock for me and I think for all”.

‘He was the one who gave me the green light to go’.

Even with nine defeats in the first 16 Premier League games, a calamitous start for any club, let alone champions, the supporters have still sung his name continuously.

Mourinho was known for his ability to motivate players and get the best out of him.

Mourinho delivered, too. After failing to win a trophy in his first season back, he orchestrated an impressive league win the following year.

Chelsea have lost the same number of league games this term as they did in the three seasons from 2004 to 2007.

Mourinho accused several of his players of betraying him after Monday’s 2-1 defeat at Leicester, but Bilic insisted he has never seen top-level players purposely underachieving.

With the strain beginning to show, Mourinho was drawn into disciplinary trouble, receiving fines amounting to 90,000 pounds ($135,504) for criticising referees and a one-match stadium ban after he was banished to the stands at West Ham on October 24.