Chelsea on Hiddink: Talks are going very well
Published 23:01 15/06/11 By Martin Lipton
Guus Hiddink is set to be installed as Carlo Ancelotti’s Chelsea successor next week after Blues chief executive Ron Gourlay hinted an agreement has almost been reached.
Dutch veteran Hiddink returned to Europe from his break in South Korea yesterday, while Gourlay is currently in the Far East.
With the resignation of Turkish Football Federation chief Mahmut Ozgener easing Hiddink’s way out of Istanbul, the 64-year-old seems poised to be confirmed for a second spell in the Stamford Bridge hotseat within the next seven days.
And Gourlay, in Kuala Lumpur ahead of Chelsea’s summer tour, signaled the direction of travel as he said: “The process is moving along very well.
“I said on Tuesday that we would look to have a new coach in place maybe within the week to two weeks. If that happens sooner then I’d be absolutely delighted and we are certainly working to a week to two weeks but it could be sooner.”
Gourlay sent out a dismissive official verdict on sacked Ancelotti’s second season at the club as he added: “Our target is very much to be back competing.
“Last year was a difficult year for us. We came off the back of a very successful year winning the Double, the most successful year we’ve had ever as a football club.
“That brings a lot of challenges for the football club and the expectations are very high and it’s fair to say our performances and results didn’t meet the expectations of the football club.
“All that is history now and we will move on. We expect to be competing for all major trophies next season, that’s our goal.
“We will strengthen the side if the correct players become available that allow us to strengthen our side but the basis of the team will be very much the same as we have in place today.”
Former Chelsea boss Ruud Gullit said last night he was bemused by his dismissal as coach of Russian side Terek Grozny.
Gullit was relieved of his duties after just five months in charge.
Terek president Ramzan Kadyrov had warned Gullit that defeat would result in his axing after complaining the 48-year-old had been more concerned with “thinking about bars and discos”.
“This is all such a crazy story,” said Gullit. “I don’t know if I’ve been fired, but I’ve already said goodbye.
“I really have to laugh. I knew this was no ordinary country and no ordinary football league. But it’s all been too bizarre for words.”
