Mourinho’s second spell at Stamford Bridge ended on Thursday, with Chelsea having lost nine of its first 16 league matches this season after sweeping to the title by eight points in May.
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Hiddink oversaw the Blues’ 3-1 win against Sunderland on Saturday from the stands alongside Chelsea owner Roman Abramovic and Drogba, and the former Netherlands coach now wants the former Chelsea forward back in West London despite the Ivory Coast legend currently playing in MLS with Montreal until December 2016.
A reindeer is seen outside Stamford Bridge on Saturday prior to Chelsea’s Premier League contest against Sunderland.
“The situation today for me is one that comes with my role as a club man”, Holland said after the win. We may never get to the bottom of what has happened in the dressing room but the players can be no excuses for failing to perform any more.
They also repeatedly chanted in support of the sacked Jose Mourinho, who has been replaced on an interim basis by Guus Hiddink, and unveiled a banner saying: “You let Jose down, you let us down”. Jose Mourinho may be gone but he will not be forgotten, and some of the players who have outlasted his second spell at Stamford Bridge have a long way to go to be forgiven.
“You can’t have players running a football club”.
Goals from Branislav Ivanovic, Pedro and Oscar gave Chelsea the three points, just their fifth win in 17 Premier League games this season.
Tottenham moves fourth, above United on superior goal difference.
Chelsea were 2-0 up after just 13 minutes courtesy of Ivanovic’s header and Pedro’s emphatic finish, while a third arrived from Oscar’s 50th-minute penalty after Costel Pantilimon brought down Willian. “I still feel the same way inside but it’s my duty to get on and work”, Holland said, adding that Mourinho had invited him out for a meal next week.
Daniel Siverns, a 20-year-old student, said he feared another period of upheaval, similar to the appointment and dismissal of a string of coaches after Chelsea fired Mourinho for the first time in 2007 only to reappoint him in 2013.
He said he was still shocked by the news of Mourinho’s departure.
Mourinho was later given a one-match stadium ban for one of several outbursts against officials and, after what proved to be his last game in charge, at Leicester City, he said the players had betrayed him.
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“Clearly the supporters have the right to voice their opinion”, he said.
