Guus Hiddink addressed the media over various topics in the pre match press conference ahead of the Everton game at Stamford Bridge. The topics ranged from injuries to transfers as well as the current form and finally some discussion about the upcoming opponents.
‘There were no injuries in the last game,’
‘Eden Hazard is still out, although he is on the pitch working. I hope in the upcoming week he will have full training sessions and then we can decide if he can join us for the Arsenal game next weekend.’
‘We have to be a little bit careful we don’t have another setback. He must have some tough, intense training sessions next midweek from Tuesday to Thursday.’
‘Falcao is out too, we knew that. The rest are okay.’
‘There is a 12-point difference from fourth place which is a gap. We all like to look forward towards the top of the table, but we also have to be realistic and see we are six points away from the relegation line. That’s also a fact.’
‘We have to work hard and be very concentrated. We have to gather our points to step up. That’s why it is a pity West Brom got this 86th-minute equaliser because a win would have helped us a lot in going up the table.’
‘We were one point off the relegation line [when Hiddink took over] but now we have a little bit more room to breathe in. We have two very difficult games coming up: Everton who have a very good away record – nine out of 10 of the last away games they got a result – and then Arsenal.’
‘If you don’t gather points you don’t know what the others can do. The Premier League can surprise you.’
‘They like to play and build up the game from their back four. They do that in a clever way. You know their midfield is experienced, they have the danger of their wide players coming inside.’
‘They also have strikers who are very penetrative in the danger area. They are a team who can play football and who are very dangerous. It will be a very difficult but I think a very attractive match.’