Chelsea FC vs Sunderland - Guus Hiddink on the brink of accepting Chelsea job for a second time

Posted Saturday, December 19, 2015 by PA

Guus Hiddink has edged towards a second stint as interim manager at Chelsea after holding talks with Stamford Bridge bosses.

The 69-year-old Dutch boss arrived in London on Friday to meet with Chelsea chiefs over a short-term role to replace Jose Mourinho.

Chelsea owner Roman Abramovich arrived at the club's Cobham base on Friday, observing training but also overseeing negotiations with former Holland manager Hiddink.

Hiddink told Dutch newspaper De Telegraaf he would listen to Chelsea's proposals before deciding whether to return to the club he coached to the FA Cup title in 2009.

"I want to get some good insight before I make my decision," said Hiddink.

"I want as much information as possible. Chelsea are in a bad situation and there are reasons for that. Whether or not I'm visiting their next match depends on my first conversation. Then I'll decide if I should stay in London longer."

Mourinho left his Chelsea post on Thursday, just seven months on from guiding the Blues to the Premier League title but also after suffering nine defeats in 16 league matches this term.

Hiddink would appear to be Chelsea's preferred caretaker appointment while the likes of Pep Guardiola, Diego Simeone and Antonio Conte are reported to be potential long-term successors to Mourinho.

Hiddink pledged to hear Chelsea's offer in full before deciding whether to accept the challenge, suggesting first team coach Steve Holland could take charge of Saturday's Premier League clash with Sunderland at Stamford Bridge.

Eden Hazard remains a doubt for the clash with Sunderland after limping out of Monday's 2-1 defeat at Leicester.

Mourinho had admitted he did not know the extent of the 24-year-old's problem after Chelsea's ninth league defeat of the season.

Sam Allardyce has ordered his Sunderland players to stand up and be counted during the frantic festive period as he looks to increase to the turmoil facing Chelsea.

Allardyce's chief concern is rescuing his side from the relegation zone after two consecutive defeats stopped the Black Cats' revival in its tracks.

And Allardyce believes the way his players respond to the mighty challenge of playing six games in 24 days over Christmas and the new year will go a long way to shaping their destiny for the rest of their campaign.

Allardyce said: "We're in a position where we've got a few players who have not experienced Christmas before - the hurly-burly and the constant pressure that you come under for a short period of time, when everyone else is relaxing and you're full on 24 seven.

"You've got to look into the players' eyes and see whether the lads can handle it or not, particularly the lads who have only played in the Premier League for one season. Changing the side will be a necessity based on the physical and mental fatigue the players are going to go through.

"They have put themselves back under enormous pressure by not picking up at least a point against Watford. We were looking pretty comfortable a few weeks ago and in the space of two games both Newcastle and Bournemouth have made it very difficult.

"We've slipped back into the bottom two and we have put enormous pressure on ourselves over the Christmas period to try and get out of there."

While Mourinho's sudden exit will change the psychology ahead of Saturday's game, Allardyce believes his side can take great heart from the way other so-called unfancied sides have fared against the big clubs this season.

Allardyce, who described Chelsea's demise this season as "staggering", added: "The encouraging thing is that Bournemouth have just beaten Manchester United and Chelsea and Newcastle have just beaten Liverpool and Tottenham, so on that basis if you play our very best on the day you can get a result in the Premier League."

Allardyce is still without Lee Cattermole and Sebastian Larsson for the trip to Stamford Bridge while defender Sebastian Coates might also be missing after sitting out training on Thursday due to illness.