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Sunday, 14 March 2010

World News Hiddink: Money Was Not a Factor

GUUS Hiddink insists his brief spell as manager of Chelsea was never about money.

The veteran Dutchman ended a three-and-a-half-month stint at Stamford Bridge as an FA Cup winner yesterday and will now return to his full-time job attempting to steer Russia into the 2010 World Cup Finals.

It leaves Roman Abramovich looking for a fifth manager in two years following the departures of Jose Mourinho, Avram Grant and the hapless Luis Felipe Scolari.

History might eventually regard Hiddink as little more than a footnote in Stamford Bridge folklore.

But, having stabilised a club in free fall when Scolari's ill-fated tenure was brought to an end in February, Hiddink confirmed the club has been more than just an exciting dalliance.

"Chelsea is in my heart," he said.

"In all works of life, people come in for a short period and then go. Those left behind had no idea who they were or what they did. It hasn't been like that for me.

"The players responded to my way of working from virtually the very first day. We developed a strong relationship. That is why I feel a lot for this club.

"It is not just about where the money was. I can honestly say I never thought of it. That just would not work.

"There had to be the foundation of a real club."

Hiddink has provided Abramovich with a detailed plan of the way forward, which will almost certainly revolve around Carlo Ancelotti, and what to do with key players, which almost certainly involves offering Didier Drogba a new contract.

Drogba's gratitude for Hiddink re-energising his career was to score the equaliser at Wembley after Chelsea had fallen behind to Louis Saha's record 25-second opener.

The Londoners were well on top by then and continued to dominate throughout, even if Frank Lampard only scored a fine winner 18 minutes from time.

"When we started in February, everyone knows what the situation was," said Hiddink.

"There was this fear we would drift into fifth or sixth. Morale was not good.

"Roman wanted me to get Chelsea into the first three places to qualify for the Champions League. Then we had to set some other targets because the revival of the team has been terrific."

If Ancelotti is appointed, he will find a hungry and determined squad according to the man leaving them behind.

However, it is an inescapable fact some are much nearer the end of their careers than the start.

Of yesterday's starting line up, only two - Jon Obi Mikel and Jose Bosingwa - were under 28, while Michael Ballack, Ricardo Carvalho and Deco are others in the Chelsea squad who have gone beyond their 30th birthday.

"The older players showed they can still perform very well and it is good to have a strong squad," said Hiddink.

"If you play 60 games a year, plus internationals, you must have the possibility to rest people.

"But it is beyond question that when older players get injured, it is harder for them to come back at the highest level."

This was all part of the Hiddink debrief, the Dutchman sad at only two things, the heartbreaking defeat to Barcelona in the Champions League semi-final and a fixture list that ensured he never got a chance to pit his wits against Sir Alex Ferguson's Manchester United.

Unlike Ferguson, who will soon have been at Old Trafford 23 years, Hiddink has never felt the need to stay in one place.

He prefers a more nomadic existence, as recent short spells with South Korea, Australia and now Russia have shown.

"Chelsea needs the next manager to stay for a long while," he said.

"But I like to move around. I like to build foundations. With South Korea, Australia and now Russia I have started with a team at a low level and moved them to a higher one.

"But I am not someone who can stay in one place for 14 years. Everyone is different and Sir Alex has done a great job.

"But, after a few years in one place, I don't feel I have the same efficiency."

Copyright (c) 2009 Press Association

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