Chelsea
assistant coach Steve Holland says the last few days have been "traumatic",
and praised Jose Mourinho as an "excpetional guy".
Holland oversaw Chelsea's 3-1 win over Sunderland on Saturday alongside
Eddie Newton, but new interim manager Guus Hiddink will be in charge for the
Boxing Day clash with Watford at Stamford Bridge.
Boos greeted several Chelsea players throughout the game, particularly Cesc
Fabregas and Diego Costa, while Mourinho's name was sung by fans on several
occasions, but Holland is confident the club can move forward.
Holland told Sky Sports: "It's been a traumatic few days, for everybody
concerned, and when I say everybody I mean everybody.
"The most important and pleasing thing for the club was to get a very
important three points, which will hopefully provide a springboard moving
forwards.
"I've known Jose for two-and-a-half years, and not only is he an exceptional
coach, he is an exceptional guy.
"You don't see the other side of him, you see the competitor in front of the
camera. He is someone I have the utmost respect for and it was a privilege
and honour to work with him."
Speaking later at his press conference, Holland said he expected Mourinho to
make a swift return to the game.
"He's a guy who needs and wants football," Holland added. "There will be
clubs and big clubs who will want him.
"And he's not in my opinion the sort of guy who's going to spend six, seven,
eight months sitting at home doing nothing in particular.
"I don't know what the circumstances are contractually and all the rest of
it. My point would be that he'll want to get going again sooner rather than
later, and it wouldn't surprise me if very big football clubs are interested
in him."
Goals from Branislav Ivanovic, Pedro and Oscar gave Chelsea a much-needed
fifth win of the season in the Premier League and as well as declaring the
win a much-needed morale boost, Holland gave his backing to Costa and
Fabregas.
"I think the supporters are entitled to their own opinion, obviously it has
been a difficult period for everybody.
"I thought the players gave everything today, and the two players you
mention [Costa and Fabregas] made a big contribution today."
"When you've been through the period the team, players, club have been
through of late, there's bound to be self-doubt.
"To be 2-0 up so early was certainly a release of tension, and you could see
the confidence starting to come back.
"Today you could see there are some signs of that confidence coming back."
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