
Chelsea
interim boss Guus Hiddink welcomes the presence of owner Roman Abramovich at
the club's training ground in times of stability, rather than turmoil.
Hiddink's weekly media briefing ahead of Sunday's FA Cup fourth-round tie at
MK Dons was witnessed by Chelsea chairman Bruce Buck.
And Abramovich has been a regular visitor to the Blues' Surrey training base
since December's departure of Jose Mourinho.
Hiddink has overseen a seven-match unbeaten run - Chelsea are eight
undefeated since Mourinho's departure - including last week's win at
Arsenal, which was a high amid a season of strife for the dethroned Premier
League champions.
"Normally when big bosses come to the training ground, then it's a bad
message," Hiddink said.
"They go there to punish or whatever. Every now and again, that happens in
the past. But I've also invited my bosses - although they have the right to
step in any minute - to come.
"Normally they say 'we don't want to bother, we don't want to come'. But I
say 'no, it's your club, feel welcome to come to training'.
"That doesn't mean you don't make big decisions every now and again, but I
like them to feel welcome not just in the official receptions, before or
after games. I'm happy when they don't have always these bad messages or
decisions to make."
Hiddink, in his second spell as caretaker boss, has repeatedly ducked
questions over whether he will have a role in choosing Mourinho's permanent
successor this summer, insisting his focus was on immediate on-pitch
matters.
There was a clamour for the Dutchman to stay on in 2009 after he won the FA
Cup, but Carlo Ancelotti was on his way in and Hiddink was contracted to
Russia.
He again laughed off suggestions he might stay this summer, having recently
insisted his appointment was always a short-term one.
As well as the arrival of a new manager this summer, Chelsea will hope to
cling on to their biggest assets, despite being unlikely to be able to offer
Champions League football.
The Blues are 14 points behind the top four, but still in the Champions
League, with a last-16 tie against Paris St-Germain.
Eden Hazard is arguably Chelsea's leading player and the 25-year-old is set
to start for the first time in four weeks at stadium:mk following a groin
injury.
Hazard last year signed a five-and-a-half year contract extension, but his
future has been subject to conjecture after an indifferent season without a
club goal.
Hiddink insisted any decisions over the Belgian's future were not his to
make, but he envisages Hazard will soon rediscover his form.
"It's up the club, but he's a very important player," Hiddink said.
"When he gets his rhythm back - and I hope fully in the upcoming weeks -
then he's of big value to Chelsea. He is eager to perform, but the physical
fitness must be there."
Hazard last season was valued at £200m by Mourinho and compared with Lionel
Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo, but the consistency of performance still
appears to be lacking.
Hiddink said: "He's young. He has three, four, five years still to come. He
has proved he can be one of the biggest.
"For the club, beautiful times can come up from him, and on top of that
there is a Euros coming up. It's a beautiful period."
Radamel Falcao has one goal for Chelsea this term and has been out since
October with a thigh problem.
Hiddink wants the former Colombia striker, who is on loan from Monaco, to
give him a selection dilemma once he returns to fitness, following the
arrival of Alexandre Pato.
"We have to help him to get back to what he once was - as a striker who
scores lots of goals," Hiddink added.
"Hopefully I will have problems to pick my striker, or the second striker,
or third striker, or who I put in the stands for the game. I hope to have
that problem as soon as possible."