Hiddink backed to be full-time Chelsea boss

The playmaker says Hiddink could remain at Stamford Bridge as a long-term appointment if he turns around the club's fortunes following the sacking of Luiz Felipe Scolari this week.

The Dutchman has joined the Blues on a temporary basis while staying in charge of Russia.

But Arshavin fears Hiddink's loyalty to Russia will be tested if he is a big success at Chelsea for the rest of the season.

The 27-year-old admitted to having mixed feelings about the Dutchman's appointment in west London.
He said today: "I have ambiguous feelings. On one hand I treat Guus very decently and cannot possibly wish him failures.

"But on the other hand Chelsea is our main rival at the moment.

"And I am also worried that if everything's well in Chelsea he will prefer to stay there for a longer period and leave the national team.

"For me that is the worst nightmare because our national team depends mostly on the head coach.

If he decides to leave suddenly it could turn out to be the end for the team. I see no replacement for Hiddink.

"But he should decide everything for himself. If he feels he is able to help Chelsea, let it be this way."

As Hiddink's predecessor Scolari said his goodbyes to staff at the training ground in Cobham today, captain John Terry spoke of the role the players could have in keeping the former PSV coach at Chelsea. Terry, who played in England's 2-0 friendly defeat in Spain last night, said: "We have six months to turn things around and if we do, he will probably get offered the full-time job. It is down to us to get results for him.

"I like the fact Guus Hiddink has stayed loyal to the Russia team. He has got them an awful long way in a short time.

"When Avram Grant was given the job, we had a meeting and we came together and realised we had to fight and work at our top level. The same is going to be needed again."

Hiddink was due at Cobham today to meet with Chelsea's squad for the first time since taking the job. Before leaving the Russia squad's training camp in Turkey, however, he was asked whether he wants to stay at Chelsea beyond the summer.

The 62-year-old said: "Let's not predict for such a long time. I have no such thoughts as we talked only about the work till the end of the season.

"When we reach the end of the season we will talk about it. And who knows, maybe this story with Chelsea will get its continuation. Before I agreed to work in Chelsea I was thinking about it for a long time, I weighed the pros and cons. I thought how my work in England could tell on the Russian national team. And I concluded that the team's interests wouldn't be infringed."

His chances of getting the full-time job increased further today when AC Milan boss Carlo Ancelotti, who has also been linked with the post, claimed he has no intention of managing Chelsea.