LONDON - New Chelsea coach Guus Hiddink said on Thursday
he was excited at the prospect of managing a club challenging for
three major trophies.
"The team are in several races, the FA Cup is there, the
Champions League and also the League," he told Chelsea TV.
"All three roads are very important. The next game at Watford,
and then Aston Villa and Juventus and then you go on the path of
the Champions League."
"That is so attractive. The club has the experience to go to the
(Champions League) final."
Chelsea, who lost the Champions League final on penalties to
Manchester United last season, face Juventus in the first leg of
the first knockout stage on February 25 at Stamford Bridge.
Hiddink, who has agreed a deal at Chelsea until the end of the
season while remaining in charge of Russia, met the players for the
first time on Thursday at a training session in Cobham where he was
also greeted by club owner Roman Abramovich.
"They are very committed. I have seen the training session, but
sometimes you can have a little bit (of a) different approach to
get even more efficiency out of the players," said the 62-year-old
Dutchman.
Hiddink will not officially take over until Monday but is
expected to be at Chelsea's FA Cup fifth round tie away to
championship Watford on Saturday.
Assistant manager Ray Wilkins, who took over on a temporary
basis when Brazilian Luiz Felipe Scolari was sacked on Monday, will
be in charge of the team at Watford.
Chelsea trail Premier League leaders Manchester United by seven
points and could be 10 points adrift if the Old Trafford side win
their game in hand at home to Fulham on February 18.
Hiddink's first task will be to reduce the deficit with a
victory in his opening match at Aston Villa three days later.
"There (could be) a 10 point difference but if you look in the
past at this league and other leagues as well, some things can
happen during the final stages of the championship."