Gary Cahill has praised Ruben Loftus-Cheek for showing patience at Chelsea and, following his first goal for the club in Sunday’s 2-0 victory over Scunthorpe, has backed the midfielder to replicate the progress made by Dele Alli at Tottenham Hotspur. “They have to get confronted with the life of the Premier League, which is a tough league”.
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“So first of all, we have to improve in training”. “A goalie threw the ball at the back of his head from five or six yards away by accident”. Not having Remy or Falcao is worrying.
“Oscar had a little problem with his toe”.
“It depends how you play”, said Hiddink.
Meanwhile, Costa was described as “doubtful” for the game, according to The Express, by the Dutch coach, after he came off late on.
The first goal was scored by Diego Costa, looking as sharp now as he did last season.
And interim Blues boss Hiddink will be heartened by hit man Costa taking another step forward in his fight for top form.
“I was happy with the result”, said the 69-year-old.
“We brought on youngsters in the second half, and that is good for them”.
10/1/16 Ruben Loftus Cheek celebrates scoring the second goal for Chelsea with Diego Costa Action Images via Reuters / John Sibley Livepic EDITORIAL USE ONLY.
With Chelsea’s chances of success in the Premier League long since ruined by their miserable first half of the season, Hiddink, who took charge after Jose Mourinho was sacked in December, has circled the dates of the FA Cup and Champions League finals in his diary. “That’s good for them”.
“We’ll see in the upcoming time we go into now in the Premier League, and while fourth place is still possible it also gives an option for younger players that they can come in more easily”.
“Ruben came in and he had a handsome goal, not just in the execution but the way he prepared himself”, the Dutchman said after the Scunthorpe game.
Hiddink found the fact that he could have two players running around in masks quite amusing seeing as Nemanja Matic is wearing one to protect his nose. They have players like the striker [Paddy] Madden who already has 14 goals, so we are very well aware who is playing and who can cause danger so we take this opponent very seriously.
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Scunthorpe are 15th in the table, seven points above the bottom four, and after this display they have enough about them not to be dragged into the relegation battle from League One.
