Chelsea confirmed on Monday that Conte will take over as first-team head coach on a three-year contract at the conclusion of Italy's Euro 2016 campaign, with Hiddink leaving Stamford Bridge for the second time after rejuvenating the club as an interim manager.
Conte visited Cobham on Tuesday to introduce himself to the Chelsea squad. Hiddink revealed that he spoke to the outgoing Italy coach about the task that awaits him, and confirmed that he will make himself available for advice to owner Roman Abramovich whenever it is required.
Swansea City
Chelsea
2:00 PM UTC
"I had a short meeting with him about general things -- about football, about Italy, a bit about the club and the work we did in the past months, and that was it. If needed, I'm available for the club because in the two spells I've been here and in between I've been visiting, this is a club I love very much.
"It's the choice of the club & when you look at his record, he made a good spell in Juventus, getting the title in Italy.
"It's good because this club is keen to play for wins and titles. It's always a big job regardless of the circumstances of Chelsea this year, but he is equipped, able and used to the pressure that is always on big clubs."
Conte will be tasked with reviving Chelsea's fortunes after the most disappointing season of the Abramovich era, and Hiddink admits that the personality and state of the current squad at Stamford Bridge could make the Italian's job harder than that of many who came before him.
"That's an extra complication," Hiddink added. "When I came in 2009 there was also this transition, but at that time the team was firm regarding the personalities. There were players like Lampard, Terry, Ballack, Essien, Drogba in the culture of the club. Now it's a bit different and that's not easy, but there is a brightness and energy to restore it."
Asked if Chelsea's position could affect their ability to attract top transfer targets this summer, Hiddink replied: "That depends on the project. If you can provide the players with a plan for next season and the season after that, then there might be a lot of attraction for players. The CV of a manager can also attract players because he is coming in with this kind of commitment, knowing Chelsea will not play Champions League next year."
Terry is the only figure from the club's most successful era still at Stamford Bridge and the decision over whether the 35-year-old is handed a new one-year contract now falls to Conte, but Hiddink refused to comment on whether he will advise Chelsea's new manager to keep the club captain -- or speculate on reports that technical director Michael Emenalo will be kept on.
"That's the future," he insisted. "You need to ask the people with that information. If I have views I'll give them directly."
No comments:
Post a Comment