Montreal Impact “willing to accommodate” Chelsea role for Didier Drogba

The Blues boast a star-studded squad but are sitting three points above the relegation zone after 18 games.

Hazard could yet beat hip trouble in time to face Watford at Stamford Bridge on Boxing Day, with Hiddink intent on helping the 24-year-old hit back to his best after a miserable opening to the new campaign.

“I was surprised but now Hiddink comes in”.

“They have a profound obligation to perform”.

“It’s obviously hard to get an interim coach with a big name, Hiddink has proven himself over the years but of course the critical note is he’s had to leave the Dutch national team because they underperformed”. They are well paid. He has demanded desire from his players. “The team know that they need to show for the new manager”. It’s hard to judge.

“I don’t want to be “informed” that much, I will make my own judgements”. They do not want to risk losing him in the same way Arsenal allowed Patrick Vieira to take a job at Manchester City.

“I didn’t have that long a conversation but it was hurting for him (Abramovich) to take this decision”. Today for the first time he practiced but not for a full session and we’ll see [what happens] tomorrow.

“I am glad to be back and it is a few years ago that I was here in a similar situation and try to help out when I was asked to do so”, he said. There is a Champions League knockout tie against Paris Saint-Germain to come in February and, as Hiddink pointed out, “we didn’t even lose to Barcelona in the semi-finals back in 2009”.

While he is unsure about the Dutchman’s intentions, the Chelsea academy boss is hoping more players are provided the opportunity to get more involved with the first team squad.

“I have to feel inside my heart that I have that passion to work with the guys”.

“I could not finish that job and it was disappointing for me”, he said.

He was seen as the main culprit, along with Diego Costa and to a lesser extent Cesc Fabregas, as one of the players who revolted against Jose Mourinho, which eventually led to the Portuguese’s sacking last week.

For Watford, manager Quique Sanchez Flores could be without Austrian defender Sebastian Prodl (calf/shin), who is a slight doubt and will undergo a late fitness test.