Quique
Sanchez Flores admits he might struggle not to call Guus Hiddink 'boss' when
they meet on the touchline at Stamford Bridge.
Flores played under Hiddink for three years at Valencia but now locks horns
with him as a manager when his Watford side travel to Chelsea.
The Boxing Day clash will be Hiddink's first game in charge since he
returned to the Blues following Jose Mourinho's sacking, and Flores is a
huge admirer of the veteran Dutchman.
"Is he one of the best managers I played for? Yes, of course, he's a very
good manager," said the Spaniard.
"When he was coaching us, we always achieved our objectives. At Valencia, we
were always in the top four. We played well. It was fun to go to training
because always we were playing with the ball.
"Normally the teams of Hiddink play offensive, always, so it is difficult to
stop it.
"The players connect a lot with him. That was my experience. They use his
close mentality to connect with him. So it's funny, it's normal to work with
him. He is close to his players and you feel confidence in this type of
manager.
"It's difficult for me to know what to call him. It's strange for him to say
'okay, you're a manager'. He knows me as a player, not like a coach.
"The experiences I have had when coaches managed me and then I manage
against them is always funny. In this case with Hiddink it will be very
special. I am looking forward to it."
The Hornets travel to west London on the back of four straight wins and
currently lie 10 points ahead of Chelsea, and just one off the Champions
League spots.
top