Chelsea Are In A Relegation Battle, Admits Guus Hiddink

Guus Hiddink claims Chelsea are in a relegation battle as the  reigning champions remains 14th on the log after 21 games and have put up the weakest title defence of the Premier League era.

Chelsea are 12 points off fourth place and only six clear of Sunderland, who occupy the final relegation spot.

“It’s a very realistic view, twelve points to Tottenham in fourth. 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. We must work hard and be very concentrated and step up. That’s why it was a pity about the 86th-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” he said.

The Dutchman also warned Chelsea not do anything ‘stupid’ in the January transfer market as they seek a solution for their shortage of strikers. Hiddink is without Eden Hazard, has ruled out injured Colombian Radamel Falcao for up to eight weeks and the 69-year-old claims he is prepared to trust youngsters like Kenedy, 19, and 20-year-old Bertrand Traore. “You must be rather desperate if you bring in players in January. Chelsea must look at today’s situation but, also, the summer situation regarding signings. So you must be careful not to do stupid things” said Hiddink.

Loic Remy, fit again after injury, and Diego Costa will be expected to shoulder the burden if no one is signed. Kenedy and Traore, who is wanted on loan by Ajax, are not typical centre forwards. “If we have those two plus the two youngsters then we have to go for a little bit with that, in principle I am in favour of bringing in young players. They must have a certain level but recently we brought in Ruben Loftus-Cheek and Kenedy, and that’s what I like. If the circumstances allow, that’s what we will do. I’d prefer to do that in the winter period than bringing in certain names. If you have this academy, the facilities and the training programme, one day it must produce. If not, it is not worth having an academy” said Hiddink.