Chelsea's season still in turmoil as Guus Hddink admits relegation is 'very realistic'

GUUS HIDDINK admits Chelsea are in a battle to survive the drop to the Championship.

 

Guus Hiddink's Chelsea haven't lost in all competitions since he took charge

 

The West London side are only six points above the bottom three having been held by West Brom on Wednesday.

And Hiddink knows Saturday’s home clash with Everton and the trip to Arsenal next Sunday are vital.

“It’s a very realistic view,” he said when asked if his side were in a relegation battle. “It is twelve points to fourth, that’s Tottenham.

“We all like to look up to the top of the table but don’t be unrealistic when you’re six points off the relegation line. That’s also a fact.

 

“We must work hard and be very concentrated and step up. That’s why it was a pity about the 86^th minute equaliser we conceded against West Brom.

“When I arrived, we started one point off the relegation line and now we have more room to breathe.

“We have two difficult games coming up. Everton, a very good away record, and then Arsenal. If you don’t gather points, you don’t know what the others do.”

Meanwhile Hiddink defended striker Diego Costa for hitting a wall in frustration after the West Brom game.

 

“I talked to him this morning for a few minutes,” he said. “The opponents like to provoke, it’s normal in a men’s game. I will defend my players, especially when they are hot, saying we have self-control not damaging ourselves and the team but there are always delicate provocations.

“I was a plumber and a builder and I checked the wall out. I didn’t see anything. Only scratches on a plastic wall, that’s all. It was an expression of frustration, not winning, no big deal.

“This referee Anthony Taylor didn’t want to send off anyone,” he said. “It reminds me of the fourth official Jon Moss who unarmed me fully. I told him it was one of the worst referees of the Premier League and he said: ‘No, you haven’t seen me yet’.