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| Guus Hiddink has got a challenge on his hands with Chelsea's current crop of players |
GUUS HIDDINK might have won the FA Cup and reached the Champions League semi-finals in his first spell at Stamford Bridge - but he has a tougher task on his hands this time round.
Despite a sudden victory on Saturday, do not expect an immediate turnaround now Jose Mourinho, the man the players refused to work for, has gone. This squad is not as strong as the 2013 version and there are more unhappy players here.
And the fans know it.
"The three rats: Hazard, Cesc and Costa" said one banner at Stamford Bridge. Their message was clear.
They chanted Mourinho's name after every goal, scored by Branislav Ivanovic, Pedro and a penalty by the mysteriously revitalised Oscar.
And Cesc Fabregas, Diego Costa and Eden Hazard, although he did not play through injury, were left in no doubt that certain sections of the fans held them responsible for the sacking of Mourinho.
Costa glared back at them. It was clear he did not like it.
And their backlash did not end there, as they criticised the players further with a song normally reserved for rival fans. "Where were you when we were ****?" they sang, as Chelsea played with a fire and freedom not seen this season. It was only their fifth win in 17 games.
To say it was an odd atmosphere at Stamford Bridge was an understatement. There was disgruntlement, even rebellion, in the air. And Fabregas and Costa were booed as they came off later in the game.
"The fans showed the loyalty they have for Jose," said skipper John Terry. "The memories he brought to this club the fans will never forget. There is obviously disappointment and rightly so because of what he has achieved.
"We had to stand up and be counted. It was tough for us, individually and collectively, but we put in a very good performance. We desperately needed the three points.
"The players spoke about sticking together over the next six months and getting ourselves back up the table. I've been here before, seen it before. You have to move on. The next game comes along so there's no point in sulking."
Moday's defeat at Leicester proved to be the end for Mourinho and Pedro said: "That was horrible. For us it was very ****."
As for Hiddink, Terry said: "He has seen what we are capable of. He will bring hunger, passion and fire. He will demand a lot of us. I've seen it before that he can come in and shake things up. That's why the club has made this decision. He will see that we have been lacking confidence. But we are capable of putting in performances like this. It starts on the training field, we will put in the work and he will put his stamp on it.
"Results will define everything. If we can keep picking up points, the training ground will be a happier place. Players will play with freedom. Players will want to impress Guus."
The inference in that sentence was clear.
Defeat for Sunderland meant they remain in the bottom three at Christmas and manager Sam Allardyce was hardly feeling full of festive cheer.
"I saw so many poor performances in the first half I could have changed all the outfield players," he said.
"We gifted Chelsea the opportunity to be very good. It was mind-boggling. My players could hardly put one foot in front of the other."
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