CHELSEA INTERIM coach Guus Hiddink heaped praise on Nigerian worldwide John Obi MIkel after Chelsea’s 3-0 win at Crystal Palace yesterday (Jan 3).
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“He leaves training to Steve Holland and Eddie (Newton) and he just puts in when he thinks, “I need to explain this to the team or that to the team”. With a new manager some things changed. We have the FA Cup next against Scunthorpe, then West Brom and Everton at home – two games we should win. “They controlled the game after that and it never looked in doubt”.
“Overall, as well as the goals, we were a different class”.
The Blues went into Sunday’s match on a seven-game winless streak on the road and it was understandable as Hiddink was desperate for victory. Maybe for some players the mentality changed.
“We’ve started working and if the team is not doing well through a long period then you have to look for security, and that’s why we emphasised on good, hard work, tactically and a defensive way”, said Hiddink.
Negotiations between the striker and the Premier League champions have yet to result in a deal being struck, with the 37-year-old still under contract with MLS side Montreal Impact until December.
“But when they take the lead, their confidence gets up, their tails get up, Fabregas ran the show [in the] second half, we couldn’t get near him”.
Like the rest of the Blues squad during this season’s terrible title defence, the Spaniard – who had missed the goalless draw at Manchester United because of suspension – has been below par, but he gave one of his best displays of the campaign. It’s something psychological. Sometimes it changes with little changes.
Skipper John Terry said: “This was the Chelsea of a year ago. That was evident. We got in some good situations but couldn’t capitalise”, he said.
Despite highlighting Zaha’s chance, Pardew was adamant Chelsea were worthy winners, adding: “I don’t think it was a tight game, Chelsea were good today, very good”.
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“When I started, we said mathematically when we could get to a Champions League position it would be lovely”.
