“Guus Hiddink the best coach” – an interview

Guus Hiddink ended his stint at Chelsea with silverware. The much coveted FA Cup went to the Blues after a disappointing game against Everton (2-1). Everton scored a very quick goal via Saha but Drogba and Lampard set things straight for the London team. Hiddink gave another swoosh to his already impressive resume. “I’m proud that my approach seems to work,” the 62 year old said, beaming.

It was right after that other final, the Champions League final in Rome, when Guus received a text message from Roman Abramovich, the Chelsea owner. It said: “There clearly is no better coach than the current Chelsea coach!”.

Hiddink smiled. He doesn’t need the compliment. But he liked it and it demonstrates how the West-London club processes the great injustice. Right after the final whistle, Hiddink sent Pep Guardiola a congrats-text message: “He’s a young bloke. I wish him all the success in the world. He did well. He showed balls.”

Hiddink is playing cards in his appartment in The Berkeley with friends. The CL finals is just finished and the cards are being dealt.

“I didn’t like to watch the game but I don’t feel bad or anything. But I do feel we played Barca well. We had the tactical solution to their game, more so than Man United. If we converted our chances and had a bit more luck with the ref, we would have won the game. But, Europe was happy with Barca in the finals, I guess. They’re a great side, without a doubt. But I am proud of the way we played them.”

His card-mate suggests foul play. Guus doesn’t believe it. “No way. No, it was a subtle, delicate psychological thing. The whole of Europe didn’t like two English teams in the finals, and that has it’s effects on a ref. Everyone was talking about how two English teams in the finals would hurt the tv-rights and payments and all that.”

“Referees read newspapers too. That information sort of settles in your mind. We were angry. We wanted revenge, but then the mourning set in and now it’s just a matter of living with the fact. We didn’t do that bad. Every football fan can draw his own conclusion. Or maybe they don’t, whatever. We won the FA Cup and we’re happy to have done so.”

Hiddink is happy with the win. “It is the FA Cup. My whole life I watched that game on Saturday, no matter where I was. Wembley. It’s the football moment of England. The vibe, the ambiance… It gives me great honour to be part of that institution. The FA cup finals is the high point of sports in England. Every player in the world knows what it means. And all my players realize that too, even if they’re from all over the globe. They are all super pro’s. Their anger and frustration ran deep, but when on the pitch they know why they’re paid so well.”

“And directly after the Barcelona game we had to face Arsenal and beat them 1-4. What else do I need to say. The stats say it all. And it will be that way against Everton, I said before the match. It wasn’t an easy win, Everton is a tough opponent. The number 5 in England, but we were strong and focused. A telling moment, a couple of days before the game. The doctor called to say all injured players had recovered and were fit. That’s not a coincidence. It’s the end of season, only one more game to go and everyone is fit and eager. I leave here with a fit group and a cup. Not bad.”

The finals was Hiddink’s swan song for Chelsea. Tough guys like John Terry and Frank Lampard hugged him whenever they could. Sentiments don’t count for Guus, but the affection for the man is huge within the club. The Chelsea fans even had an orange banner at Wembley pleading him to stay on. In Dutch.

Assistant Ray Wilkins, striker Drogba and even the chef of the Chelsea restaurant wanted Guus to stay in London. Only Abramovich didn’t meddle in Hiddink’s decision. “I’m sure he wouldn’t have liked it if I didn’t chose to go to Russia. My loyalty is with the Russian team. Despite the fun I had here in London,” Guus says.

Hiddink’s mission was a success. His charter was to secure Champions League football. He also rejuvenated the team and won the FA Cup. “Morale was low when I came in. I didn’t have the time or the inclination to do an interview round. It didn’t feel right. We were in the thick of the action and I said I wouldn’t walk away from a talk or a debate, but I wanted results as of day 1. Period. I said: you are all big boys with big paychecks. So, take your responsibility. It wasn’t complicated. I wanted them to understand I demanded the best.”

“I actually expected some fights here and there, but it didn’t happen. The vibe was good. We won our first match against rival Aston Villa. That helped a lot. I did talk with Terry and Lampard, the skipper and his understudy and I also talked with Cech, Ballack, Drogba and Anelka… I talked with all of them, in the end, but those were natural talks. Like any employee would have with another in any situation.”

“But it was always business like. No whining. It was about responsibility and making choices. That was my common thread. Show them constantly that they had to do it. On the pitch. And there was no room for excuses.”

“I don’t leave room for excuses. Players are smart, they use their excuses when it suits them. I won’t stand for that. Particularly not from the top. There is no excuse for failing. Success is the norm. And you give it your all.”

“I don’t think we should overcomplicate the coaching job. That way of working is my signature style and it works with youngsters and less experienced players, like in Korea and Australia, and it works with big name players at Chelsea. We won all the big games in England, bar the Spurs game. I’m sorry we didn’t get to play Man United. In Europe we beat Juve, Liverpool and we almost beat Barca. A great time I had…”

He’ll miss his lads at Stamford Bridge. “Sure. Leaving is tough. I’m not a prototype interim manager. I care about people I work with. Which is why I return to Russia and it will be hard to leave here. This is a superb club with great, genuine people. People call Chelsea the spoilt posh rich club. Well, they’re not. Rich, maybe yeah… But so what? There’s passion, warmth at Chelsea. And we will remain in touch. They asked me to consult them on a regular basis, well… Do you think I’d say no to that?”

After the finals it’s over. There’s a little farewell party and then Guus will empty his appartment for Carlo Ancelotti. Hiddink will quickly visit his dad in Holland. And next week he’s back in Moscow. Michael van Praag has asked Guus to support Holland in it’s bid for the 2018/22 WC, but so did Abramovich for Russia. Which one will it be? As a real diplomat, Hiddink answers: “I don’t know yet. It’s a tough decision and I want to listen a bit longer to my feelings about that…”

But his eyes say he’s made up his mind. But he’ll tell us all later….