Guus: Drop one more point and we can forget the title

The Blues take on Wigan at Stamford Bridge tomorrow trailing the reigning champions by 10 points.

United boss Sir Alex Ferguson has already ruled third-placed Chelsea out of the running despite the arrival of Hiddink as manager following the sacking of Luiz Felipe Scolari.

But the Dutchman believes his team can still be champions, providing they have a perfect end to the season.

Hiddink said: "Alex Ferguson is in the lead and in the driver's seat and can talk as he does. I respect him very much for what he has achieved over a long period at the club.

"They are in the lead and we are some points away, but there is still some way to go. There has to be a lot done on our side to challenge them, but we will try. We can't afford to drop one single point.

"The owner didn't demand anything when I agreed to take the job - there were no specific demands. Everyone wants to see Chelsea going up the league and not in the position they're in now."

The Russia coach joined Chelsea on the agreement that he would leave at the end of the season so he could concentrate on his international job.

However, it now appears that the 62-year-old could be a permanent appointment after reports emerged that Dick Advocaat is being lined up to succeed him in the Russia job. Chelsea owner Roman Abramovich, who has heavily funded the Russia team, has pinpointed the Zenit St Petersburg coach as a potential new national team boss, allowing Hiddink to stay in London.

There has also been a suggestion that Hiddink could continue his job-share until next year's World Cup finals.

The Dutchman denies that doubts about his future will affect the squad.

He said: "The players cannot think, 'oh this manager is away at the end of the season so we can relax or whatever'. We don't accept that, I don't accept that. I don't think the attitude of the players is like that anyway. If you have this attitude you do not deserve to be a member of any club."

Meanwhile, Ashley Cole is so convinced Chelsea will beat Juventus to a place in the quarter-finals of the Champions League, he admits he is already fearing facing an English team in the last eight.

Chelsea only defeated Juventus 1-0 at Stamford Bridge and face a difficult trip to Turin in a fortnight.

Arsenal and Liverpool also have one-goal first-leg leads - against Roma and Real Madrid respectively - while Manchester United face Inter Milan after a goal-less match in Italy. Cole believes all three English sides will win their ties to make it a tense quarter-final draw for Chelsea.

The left-back said: "I think we're favourites to go through - we'll score away from home and that's important. We know that if we keep another clean sheet we'll progress to the next round.

"I'm confident all four English teams will go through. It's nice to have that, to prove the league is the best. But we don't really want to be playing English teams though, we had Liverpool in the semi last year and I think you always want to play a foreign team."

Defender Ricardo Carvalho could be recalled to the squad to face Steve Bruce's side tomorrow following a hamstring injury, while Deco is unlikely to return having missed the Juventus clash with the same problem.

Joe Cole, who was ruled out for the rest of the season after sustaining a serious knee injury against Southend in January, has revealed he is on course to return to fitness in time for the start of next season.

He said: "I'm targeting the start of pre-season training in the summer and coming back stronger. I'm missing it already, but I'm looking forward to coming back."