Guus Hiddink today insisted he will only stay at Chelsea until the end of the season but vowed to fight for silverware on all fronts.

The Dutchman, who replaced Luiz Felipe Scolari as manager last week, believes the club have a strong chance in three competitions.

Chelsea are fourth in the Premier League, but Hiddink believes they can still close the gap on leaders Manchester United. The Blues are also in the FA Cup quarter-finals and have a Champions League tie against Juventus next week.

At his first press conference this morning,
Hiddink said: “Chelsea are used to winning trophies so let's try to repeat it. If Chelsea don't win this season we cannot be happy. It's a challenge, although the time is limited. Chelsea are 10 points down on Manchester United, which will be very difficult to close, but we will give it a try.

“If you're 10 points ahead you feel comfortable, but if you look at history things can change. Like when United won the European Cup Final in the last few minutes in 1999.”

Hiddink admitted, though, that United's defensive strength, built around goalkeeper Edwin van der Sar, will make Chelsea's task difficult.

“My fellow Dutchman is breaking all these records, I have to call him to stop,” he said. “For us to do it we have to win our games and they have to lose. In the other two competitions Chelsea are in the race and that's why it's a challenge. I'm not here to pass time until the end of the season.”

Hiddink is combining his Chelsea work with his job as Russia coach and is adamant he will return to his international role full-time this summer.

He said: “I will help out until the end of the season only. I have my full-time commitment with the Russian federation, which I will fulfil.

“It was not an easy decision to make. I did it just because of the existing relationship between Chelsea and Russia. Any other club I would have rejected it.”

Hiddink's long-term commitment to Russia was one of the potentially delicate subjects he was quizzed on during a packed press conference at Stamford Bridge.

But the 62-year-old showed a deft touch in handling his interrorgators, dealing with the questions in the manner of a seasoned politician.

While some coaches can crumble under the spotlight, witness Avram Grant's underwhelming performance in the same room during his unveiling 17 months ago, Hiddink coped with consummate ease.

His confidence bore a stark contrast to the worried demeanour worn by Scolari as his end approached after a run of four wins from 12 games and reports of unrest in the dressing room.

Hiddink believes rumours of dressing-room discontent were wide of the mark — or least he has seen no evidence to support them.

He said: “I observe and notice how people behave and how people get along with each other or not.
“I have watched the team from a little distance as well as working with the team for a few days, I have noticed a few details. I can't see any division — what I have noticed is they are united.

“The squad is 20-plus. I am realistic that the ones in the first 11 will be very happy and the others would like to play. But they know they're in a big club and when needed can make a contribution. I don't want to know about the past, I am here to go forward.”

Another Chelsea man keen to move forward is Didier Drogba, who today insisted he wants to stay at Chelsea and help Hiddink revive the club's fortunes.

The Ivory Coast striker has consistently been linked with moves to France or Italy and his future at the club was put in further doubt when he fell out with Scolari.

But the 30-year-old said: “I am happy with everyone here and want to be a Chelsea player.
“I want people to stop talking about me going back to Marseille or going to Inter Milan. When Jose Mourinho left I was unhappy, but that is past now and I am allowed to change my mind. With Chelsea, I'm with one of the best teams in the world.

“The only trophy we are missing is the Champions League and I want to win it with Chelsea and bring it back to the Bridge.”

“I would stay if they offered me a new contract. I love the fans. My family love it here and we want to stay. But I know that first I need to show I am still the Didier Drogba this club knows.”

That kind of enthusiasm should cheer Hiddink, especially as Drogba had done very little to hide his dissatisfaction with the Scolari — particularly the Brazilian's singling out of him following last month's 3-0 defeat at Manchester United.

Drogba told The Sun: “When you manage a team like Chelsea, you need to unite the team when times are rough, not divide them.

“To name one player as to blame for what happened in a squad of 24 is wrong. How can one player be responsible for not winning for so many weeks and losing points?”

But Drogba denied being part of a gang of three who had plotted towards Scolari's departure, saying: “I was not involved in any discussions with the owner.”

Drogba is likely to start up front at third-placed Aston Villa tomorrow in a match that Hiddink accepts will be a tough introduction to the League.

He said: “The first priority is Villa Park, the next game. I think you're obliged as a professional and to your own crowd to get to the next battle and this is Villa.

“They have had a very good period of winning games home and away, it's tough, but we want to play.

“If they keep doing what they're doing they're in a good spot to qualify for the Champions League and we want to change places with them as soon as possible.”