Mathematical optimism: Chelsea can still finish in top four, says Hiddink

Interim manager buoyed by Blues’ display in 3-0 win over Crystal Palace

LONDON: Chelsea still have a chance of finishing in the Premier League top four and securing Champions League football at the end of the season, believes interim manager Guus Hiddink.

After a pair of draws in his opening two matches since taking over as Chelsea interim manager, Hiddink at last secured his first win thanks to goals from Oscar, Willian and Diego Costa at a rain-lashed Selhurst Park on Sunday.

The win moved Chelsea up to 14th place in the table and 13 points behind fourth-placed Tottenham Hotspur, and Hiddink refused to write off his side’s chances of finishing in the top four although he admitted it would be ‘difficult’.



“Everyone knows there’s a lot of quality but sometimes a team which has just become champions has a tendency to become complacent,” the Dutchman told BBC. “When I started, we said mathematically when we could get to a Champions League position it would be lovely. The league is difficult but as long as we play like we did against Palace, the results will come.”

While Willian’s stunning 20-yard strike was the pick of Chelsea’s goals, it was the less visible but no less significant contribution of Nigerian midfielder John Obi Mikel that caught Hiddink’s eye.

Shielding his defence with a commanding display in the holding midfield role, Mikel gave Chelsea the physical presence they have lacked for much of the season as Nemanja Matic struggled.



“He’s the ideal player to bring balance to the team,” said Hiddink.

Spurs draw not music to Pochettino’s ears

A measure of Tottenham Hotspur’s progress under coach Mauricio Pochettino was their sense of disappointment with a 1-1 draw against Everton in the Premier League at a rainswept Goodison Park.

The London club dominated the first half but fell behind to a superb goal from their former winger Aaron Lennon before young midfielder Dele Alli furthered his case for a place in England’s midfield with a classy equaliser.



Fourth-placed Spurs are six points adrift of leaders Arsenal, four off surprise package Leicester City and three behind third-placed Manchester City.

Tottenham have not been English champions since 1961 and, while their priority is a top-four finish to qualify for the Champions League, a title challenge is realistic. “Normally we have music in the dressing room,” Pochettino told reporters after the draw. “We did not after this game because we are disappointed. Maybe tomorrow we can feel proud we have a point but now we feel this is two points lost.”

Published in The Express Tribune, January 5^th, 2016.

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