Chelsea have improved under Guus Hiddink, but deeper issues remain

I turned off my alarm, stumbled my way in total darkness to the living room at the ungodly hour of 4 am, fumbled around until I found the remote control, and turned on the TV. In its dull glow, I poured myself a glass of water and crashed on the sofa, still rubbing the sleep from my eyes. My pre-match ritual complete, I lay in hope. I hoped that, in light of the enduring nightmare that was the 2015-16 football season, and my team’s precipitous fall from grace, salvation would come in the form of a successful FA Cup run. Around two hours later, Romelu Lukaku ended Chelsea’s season.

Hiddink himself said as much when he talked about the rebuilding job Roman Abramovich and the Chelsea board have on their hands, following his side’s exit from Europe. In a strange way, the Dutchman’s comments in various interviews since his arrival at Stamford Bridge have, on occasion, given the impression that he is an outsider looking in – surveying the smouldering remains of Jose Mourinho’s fiery reign.

Despite that, as also the fact that he has been unequivocal about leaving his post in the summer, Chelsea’s upturn in form prompted many – including Blues midfielder John Obi Mikel – to suggest that Hiddink should stay beyond the summer and take on the job on a permanent basis. Thankfully, Chelsea are reportedly looking elsewhere for their next manager. However, it is worth considering the changes that Hiddink has affected following his arrival in December.

Tactically, there has been no discernible change in Chelsea’s way of playing since Hiddink’s arrival. Depending on the opposition, the Blues sit deep and play on the break, press high up and force turnovers of possession, or attempt a combination of the two. Broadly speaking, Mourinho operated in the same way.

The formation too has seen few changes. Like his predecessor, Hiddink has switched between a 4-2-3-1 and a 4-3-3 depending on the opposition and has even used the likes of Kenedy at left-back – something Mourinho did very early in the season. The change, then, has been to the personnel – in one key position in the team in particular.

As Pep Guardiola so eloquently explains in this YouTube clip, formations are meaningless without also knowing the players in each position. John Obi Mikel has replaced Nemanja Matic in the Chelsea set-up, and that has brought balance to the side. The Nigerian does have his shortcomings, but unlike his Serbian colleague, also has the positional discipline to shield the back four without exposing himself against opposition attacking midfielders.

Mikel’s limitations on the ball are almost a bonus, in the sense that he does not carry the ball forward to the attacking third like Matic tends to, and instead plays it to midfield partner Cesc Fabregas. The 28-year-old keeps it simple and does the basics right. Although that sounds like a cliché, Matic patently does not tick those boxes. The former Benfica man was an attacking midfielder in his younger days, and his alacrity to join in the attack often results in him losing possession – whether because of a failed ‘Hollywood’ pass, or a failed attempt at dribbling past opposition in the final third.

Mourinho’s reticence to use Mikel was strange, and the defensive midfielder’s inclusion in the side has certainly made a difference in terms of the Blues’ defensive record. Having conceded 26 goals in 16 games under the Portuguese (1.6 goals per game), Chelsea have let in a far more respectable 12 in 12 (a goal per game) under Hiddink.

Fabregas, too, has looked more like the early 2014-15 version of himself. Perhaps his improvement can be put down in part to the presence of Mikel alongside him, which has afforded him more freedom of movement.

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Mikel provided an insight into this early in Hiddink’s reign, when he said, “From day one, since Guus has come in, the atmosphere has changed. The players feel more relaxed. And in a way, they can perform very well. You can see Diego. It takes a lot to get Diego in a good mood.”

Chelsea’s revival could also partly be the consequence of, quite simply, luck. The Blues have not been punished as ruthlessly for defensive errors and have got the rub of the green with certain refereeing decisions. Hiddink’s men could very easily have lost to Everton at Stamford Bridge, Manchester United twice, and even Norwich City at Carrow Road, where Cameron Jerome’s profligacy in front of goal played a huge role in Chelsea’s win.

An aspect that hasn’t been talked about as much is the players’ fitness. Mourinho admitted that his decision to give the squad extra holidays had not had the desired effect in the early part of the season, but perhaps the improvement in sharpness and fitness in the second half of the season – hard though it is to quantify – is partly a result of that decision. Chelsea have taken a while to get going in a physical sense, but look like they have reached peak physical condition (with a few notable exceptions) over the past couple of months.

Hiddink’s relief that the Blues have moved away from the relegation zone was a stark reminder of just how far Chelsea have fallen. This time, there is no quick solution, no shortcut to glory. The Stamford Bridge faithful will need to make their peace with the fact that this rebuilding process will take time.

The rest of the season is all but a write-off, with a top-four finish out of the question. Chelsea can still make the Europa League spots, but that will not be a top priority. Giving their younger players an opportunity to adjust to the demands of Premier League football would be the first indication that the club have begun their rebuilding process.

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