Chelsea line up Hiddink
Dutch coach Guus Hiddink has cleared his way to join Chelsea this
summer by announcing that he is ready to quit as boss of
Russia.
The move by Hiddink, who has a close working relationship with
Chelsea owner Roman Abramovich, will increase the pressure on the
Premiership champions current manager, Jose Mourinho.
Hiddink, personally recruited by Abramovich to take over the
Russian national team, is in regular contact with the Chelsea owner
and would be his principal target if Mourinho leaves in the
summer.
The Dutchman has an outstanding track record, most recently with
South Korea and Australia in the past two World Cup campaigns and
as a club manager with PSV Eindhoven.
Chelsea are six points behind Manchester United in the Premiership
and the board are surprised that Mourinho should be complaining
about injuries despite spending £50million on players last summer.
Hiddinks admission comes at a time when there is fresh speculation
about the future of Mourinho, whose team beat Macclesfield 6-1 in
the FA Cup third round yesterday.
If Chelsea fail to win the Champions League, despite recruiting
superstars Andriy Shevchenko, Michael Ballack and Ashley Cole,
Mourinhos future would be uncertain, even though Chelsea chief
executive Peter Kenyon insists that the Portuguese will be in
charge next season.
Hiddinks vision of open, attacking play contrasts with Chelseas
current functional style and more closely fits with the approach
Abramovich is said to prefer.
He took over as coach of the Russia team in 2005, after being
recruited by Abramovich and the president of the Russian FA, Vitali
Mutko, but has now prepared his assistant, Alexander Borodjuk, to
take charge.
Hiddink, whose deal runs out in 2008, said: "Its really time to
say in Russia 'Borodjuk takes over now'.I have the energy to go and
do something new and get a lot of satisfaction out of that. The
past few years I have enjoyed a lot of successes. Im grooming my
assistant as a top-class coach so Im no longer needed soon."
Hiddink gave an insight into his relationship with Abramovich which
is sure to unnerve Mourinho.
Talking about the problems of coaching Russia, who play England in
two Euro 2008 qualifiers this autumn, Hiddink, said: "Abramovich
has created a massive football academy here (in Russia). But he
told me that Russia has not played a significant role in football
for 10 years. He asked me if I could give him a helping hand.
"He was here the other day. He and I talked for a while about a
number of things. He stays in the background and he is not pushy
with things. I get on with him very well."
Last month, Abramovich said he and Mourinho did not have friendly
relations but they are warm enough.
Hiddinks interview was published yesterday in Elf Magazine in
Holland. Frank Arnesen, now a key executive at Chelsea,was director
of football at PSV when Hiddink was coach there.
Not good if mourinho leave... cos
Guus Hiddink is a good coach/manager and without the nonsense...
chelsea may actually be likeable even after spending more money cos
Hiddink seems to have good PR skills too 
