Former Premier League manager backs ex-Chelsea boss for Stamford Bridge return



Meulensteen believes Hiddink can rescue Chelsea's season



 

RENE MEULENSTEEN believes Guus Hiddink is the right man to take over at Chelsea.

 

The ex-Manchester United first team coach, who worked under Sir Alex Ferguson for 11 years in two spells, has also managed Fulham in the Premier League.

And the 51-year-old believes his fellow Dutchman will be able to steady the ship at Stamford Bridge after the shock dismissal of Jose Mourinho.

"Guus has always been a modern-thinking coach but at the end of the day you still deal with humans and that is one of his biggest assets - he gets the noses of everyone in the room pointing in the same direction," Meulensteen told BBC Radio Five Live.

 

"It was a short-lived period with him at Anzhi but it was time well spent. I am sure he will do well for Chelsea because he will be a safe pair of hands."

Hiddink is yet to be confirmed as Chelsea's interim manager, and coaches Steve Holland and Eddie Newton will take charge on Saturday when Sunderland travel to Stamford Bridge.

But Hiddink is expected to be installed over the coming week before the Blues face Watford on Boxing Day.

 

The Dutchman will be starting his second spell as Chelsea manager, again as interim, having taken the job in February 2009 when Luiz Felipe Scolari left.

Then also Russia national team manager, he guided Chelsea to a Champions League semi-final and won the FA Cup, causing a number of players to urge him to stay.

 

However, he returned to Russia, happy with his brief stay in London. 

Should Hiddink prove successful once again, he may be in the running for the permanent job, although he is likely to face competition from Carlo Ancelotti, Diego Simeone, and Pep Guardiola.