CHELSEA will have to put together a record breaking run of results between now and the end of the season if they are to make the top four of the Premier League.
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| Guss Hiddink reckons Chelsea can still finish in the top-four this season |
After the 3-0 win at Crystal Palace on Sunday, interim manager Guus Hiddink insisted that a top four place and Champions League qualification is still within his club's reach this season.
Chelsea are 14th in the table, 13 points off a top four place.
But to get there in the remaining 18 games of the season, they would now have to have a better second half of the season than they did last year - when they won the title.
Last season Chelsea picked up 41 points from their last 18 games of the season under Jose Mourinho, to win the Premier League by eight points.
Now, after a disastrous start to this campaign, they will need 47 points, just to reach last season's mark of 70 points, which secured Manchester United fourth place.
That is a 2.6 points per game from now on, if they are to land the potential £40 million Champions League jackpot.
Hiddink, who saw his side win at Selhurst Park thanks to goals from Oscar, Willian and Diego Costa, said: "It's difficult because this league has become so strong; everyone can win against everyone.
"It's very difficult to get there. It's possible but there's a long way to go."
Hiddink's former assistant Ray Wilkins said: "I don't think it is possible.
"Somewhere along the line there will come the odd defeat. But Chelsea have been playing with more spirit - and when they are firing they are one fine team. They were absolutely outstanding at Palace"
Former Chelsea striker Tony Cascarino also believes the task will be beyond Hiddink's men.
He said: "It feels like it is impossible for Chelsea to make the top four.
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| Former Chelsea assistant Ray Wilkins reckons a top-four finish isn't possible |
"The lowest points return to secure a fourth-placed Champions League place has been 67. To reach that, Chelsea would need another 44 points, which would be the highest return they would have had over the last 15 years."
The best place a team has achieved from a similar position in recent years is eighth. Tottenham and Fulham both had 19 points from 19 games and achieved that spot.
Goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois has admitted Chelsea's players are playing for their futures this season under Hiddink, who will be in charge until the end of the season after replacing Mourinho.
The Belgian said: "When results are not good the first one to get the bullet is the manager, but it's not only the manager - the players have to take responsibility as well. We were the ones not playing well.
"With a new manager some things change. Maybe for some players the mentality changed. It's difficult to explain. It's something psychological. Maybe we needed a change to pick up our level again.
"We are still the same team that last year were the champions with Mourinho so I don't think it's a new change.
"We know we are responsible. We had team meetings where we said 'Ok the manager has gone but we are responsible - we need to pick up our level because we are not playing well enough for a Chelsea player'. Now we are stepping up our game and that's good."
Courtois also revealed that Hiddink has got Chelsea on intensive shooting practice to sharpen them up in front of goal.
It seemed to be working, with Costa scoring on Sunday his third goal in his last two matches after just four in the first five months of the campaign.
"The training is different," added Courtois. "There are different type of little games we play - or sometimes more shooting on goal to give confidence to the strikers."
Chelsea were hit with a major injury blow last night with the news that Belgian star Eden Hazard has damaged a hip and could be out for a fortnight.
The Belgian picked up the injury in the 3-0 win at Crystal Palace on Sunday and aggravated it trying to run the problem off. Hazard is definitely out of Sunday’s FA Cup third round match with Scunthorpe, and rated only 50-50 for next Wednesday’s home Premier League clash with West Brom.
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