Interim
Chelsea head coach Guus Hiddink was happy with his side's display in their
goalless draw with Manchester United at Old Trafford on Monday.
United may have been the better of the two teams, hitting both the crossbar
and the post in the first half, before Thibaut Courtois produced a
sensational point-blank stop to deny Ander Herrera after the beak.
However, the Premier League champions had their chances too, with United
goalkeeper David de Gea saving well from John Terry, Cesar Azpilicueta and
Pedro to keep the visitors at bay.
Meanwhile, Nemanja Matic also wasted a wonderful opening when played clean
through on goal after half-time, only for the Serbia holding midfielder to
blaze high over the bar.
And given that Chelsea were without suspended striker Diego Costa, as well
as injured forwards Loic Remy and Radamel Falcao, Hiddink thought a point
away from home was a good result for the visitors.
"Everyone knows we have some problems in our striker's position due to
suspension and injuries," said Hiddink, who has still only lost one game in
his two spells in charge of the west London club, after the game.
"We have not won, but now we are three games [unbeaten] and that is
important.
"The team knows what to do, especially tactically it was OK, defensively
well organised. We did not have the full, full power to hurt. But what I
think is important now is that everyone is convinced to give his best for
the team.
"And that is what I like to see. I think it is normal to see the character
of the players, the desire, but I think they showed a lot of ambition in the
last three games and that is what we are asking.
"And then automatically when everyone is on board, hopefully we can use the
quality of the players as well."
The draw saw Chelsea move up to 14th in the table, three points clear of
Newcastle United in the relegation zone at the halfway point of the season.
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