Antonio
Conte faces a tough task when he takes over at Chelsea next season, says
interim manager Guus Hiddink.
Former Juventus boss Conte was named as Hiddink's successor on Monday and
will begin a new era at Stamford Bridge after leading Italy at Euro 2016 in
France in June.
His task will be to restore last year's champions Chelsea to the top of the
Premier League after this season's slump.
However, with a dressing room lacking the strong personalities that have
been a feature of the past decade, Hiddink believes it could take time.
"That's an extra complication," the Dutchman told a news conference on the
eve of 10th-placed Chelsea's game at Swansea City on Saturday.
"When I came here the first time in 2009 the team was firm, regarding the
personalities. The players knew the culture of English football and the club
such as [Frank] Lampard, [John] Terry. Now it's a bit different and that
won't be easy."
Hiddink took over on an interim basis from Luis Felipe Scolari seven years
ago and with the likes of Lampard, Terry, Didier Drogba, Petr Cech and
Ashley Cole at his disposal he helped them to third in the league and won
the FA Cup.
Only Terry remains of those stalwarts but Hiddink has no doubt Conte will
turn around Chelsea's fortunes, even if he appeared rattled by the line of
questioning on Friday.
"I thought we had a game tomorrow but okay let's start with that subject,"
said Hiddink who has not lost a league game since taking over from Jose
Mourinho in December.
"When you look at his record he had a good spell at Juventus where he won
the title. That's always good because this club is always keen to play for
titles.
"It's a big job regardless of the circumstances Chelsea have been in this
year. He is equipped, able and used to the pressure which is always on at
big clubs to win titles."
Hiddink said he met Conte when the Italian was introduced to the squad on
Monday but refused to divulge what he had spoken to the 46-year-old about.
"If I have something to say ... I will do so directly," he said.
Chelsea travel to Swansea without injured skipper Terry, Eden Hazard and
Nemanja Matic while striker Diego Costa is suspended.
"We have a few injured players so we will bring in some youngsters," Hiddink
said, and he is demanding a strong finish to the season.
"Everyone knows the history of Chelsea, when they were almost in the same
position as where Newcastle are, struggling now," he said. "We are happy to
have got out in a relatively short time - six weeks or so.
"It was a good achievement for the team. But it is not the standard of
Chelsea and next season they will have to recover that terrain."
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