Chelsea coach, Guus Hiddink has stated that Chelsea could relegate if the players continue with their lackluster performance this season.
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“It [a relegation battle] is a very realistic view”.
A Gareth McAuley own goal looked to have settled matters decisively in Chelsea’s favour but with only minutes remaining, James McClean met Saido Berahino’s flick to give the visitors a deserved point and leave them three points clear of Chelsea in the table. “That’s also a fact”, added the Dutchman, in his second stint as caretaker Chelsea boss after Jose Mourinho was sacked last month. You have to ride your luck and work hard and we did.
But against West Brom the flaws that surfaced during their dismal first half of the season resurfaced, with Hiddink’s side guilty of conceding two sloppy goals and Diego Costa once again apparently intent on staging a running battle with his opponents. We were down when we started, we were one point off the relegation line. “But then we have to win all our home games at least”.
Despite making some headway since his arrival, the Dutch tactician has taken up a very realistic approach and is wary of their next to two clashes against Everton and Arsenal. I don’t know the reason why he was sold – you have to ask the management why they made a decision to do so.
Hiddink insisted there was no damage.
Everton come into the game four points better off than Chelsea and on the back of a solid 0-0 draw at Manchester City, but Phil Jagielka still sees the need for improvement after winning once in eight league games. I was a plumber and a builder and I checked it out the day after.
Chelsea host Everton in the Premier League on Saturday (Sunday AEDT), ahead of January fixtures against Arsenal at the Emirates Stadium and an FA Cup fourth round cup tie against the victor of Northampton and MK Dons.
However, Hiddink is satisfied Costa did not cross the line despite being booked for a nasty challenge on Gardner in the second half. I see little things, little touches.
MOAN OF THE MATCH Diego Costa.
The manager believes it is not worth having an academy, if a club can’t provide opportunities to the young players.
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“You must be rather desperate to bring in players in January”, Hiddink said, as quoted by the Guardian. “It would have been the flawless week if we could have won all three games this week”.
