Hiddink Look To Coninue Chelsea’s Improved Form

Guus Hiddink will attempt to maintain Chelsea’s improved form at Southampton on Saturday after a week in which Antonio Conte appeared to move close to becoming the Dutchman’s successor at Stamford Bridge.

Chelsea remain unbeaten in domestic competition since Hiddink was installed as interim manager in December, a 12-game run that has taken the Blues into the FA Cup quarterfinals and helped the club move closer to mid-table in the Premier League.

Hiddink has brought much needed stability, with the only blemish on his record the last 16 first leg Champions League defeat at Paris Saint Germain which he hopes to avenge next month

The 69-year-old’s second temporary spell at the club was always destined to draw to a close at the end of the season and reports this week suggest Italy coach Conte, whose current contract expires after Euro 2016, has emerged as the front-runner to take charge next season.

Whether or not Conte takes over a club on the up hinges on Hiddink continuing to bring the best out of a group of players who have recently started to show the form they demonstrated in winning the title last year.

Southampton manager Ronald Koeman, who played under Hiddink at PSV Eindhoven, believes his former manager was the ideal appointment after the departure of Jose Mourinho.

“He is always defending his players and that was good for Chelsea at that moment,” Koeman said.

“He was the right man at the right moment and the players are looking more comfortable and he has given them confidence.

“I was expecting that because they have good players with good qualities. The way the manager is dealing with the team is good for this moment.

“When they changed the manager they signed Guus Hiddink for his second spell at Chelsea and he had, in the past, had a good relationship with the players.

“He is a coach with a lot of experience at all levels and knows a lot. He has a knowledge about characters of players and how to give them that important support.”