Jose Mourinho made it clear yesterday that his departure from Chelsea on Thursday was not by mutual consent, insisting instead that the club sacked him.
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As Chelsea beat Sunderland 3-1 under the temporary command of Steve Holland, Hiddink watched from the stands at Stamford Bridge with owner Roman Abramovich and former striker Didier Drogba, who has been linked with a coaching role.
Guus Hiddink has been appointed Chelsea’s new head coach until the end of the season.
Hiddink, 69, whose last post was as Holland coach, said on the club’s official website: “I am excited to return to Stamford Bridge”.
“Mourinho is pleased that he returned to Chelsea football club because he was able to give the fans another Premier League title, which they had not won for many years”, the statement read. “However, I am sure we can all turn this season around”, Hiddink said in a club statement.
“I am looking forward to working with the players and staff at this great club and especially renewing my wonderful relationship with the Chelsea fans”.
And Lawrenson has been left less-than-impressed by the Chelsea squad’s attitude.
Mourinho, Chelsea’s most successful manager, was sacked by the west Londoners for the second time after a run of nine defeats in 16 games saw the champions slump to within a point of the Premier League relegation zone.
Hiddink’s fortunes have faded since he was last at Chelsea.
“Where were you when we were s***”, supporters sang angrily as Chelsea’s fluid play in the first half contrasted with a string of limp performances that led to Mourinho’s departure.
“We leave all the decisions to Mr Abramovich and the board and we know how that our job as players is to focus on getting results on the pitch”.
“But the start we made to the season came as a major disappointment to the owner, the Board and Chelsea fans everywhere”, Buck said in the Chelsea programme.
“It’s some of the players who should have left and we should offload them in January”.
“Our position is very poor, had we lost today we would have gone into the bottom three, so it’s a very important win”.
In his captain’s notes, the defender wrote: “We are aware there have been rumours of player power at the club but I want to make it clear that is not the case”.
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Chelsea entertain Watford on Boxing Day when the reigning champions will have the chance to record consecutive league victories for the first time this season.
