LONDON, Feb 18 — Guus Hiddink believes Chelsea's players are not fit enough after taking his first training session as the club's temporary coach on Monday. With a tough Barclays Premier League match against Aston Villa on Saturday, followed by the Champions League first leg against Juventus next Wednesday, the Dutchman has little time to get his players in shape.
Several members of the squad do not believe they are as fit as they were under former assistant Steve Clarke, who left for West Ham in September, but Hiddink intends to step up the intensity.
He will conduct fitness tests this week on his squad, who responded with a predictably enthusiastic session in front of the owner and their new coach.
Roman Abramovich's interest in the club has been re-ignited by Hiddink's arrival and the Russian took girlfriend Daria Zhukova to watch Saturday's 3-1 victory at Watford in the FA Cup.
Abramovich's financial affairs were laid bare last night when it emerged that his fortune has been slashed by half following the collapse of the economy.
The oligarch, who sacked his third manager in the space of 15 months last week, was estimated to be worth US$23 billion (RM83 billion) last year. According to the magazine Finans, Abramovich remains the second wealthiest individual in Russia.
Chelsea's benefactor is in negotiations with representatives of Luiz Felipe Scolari over a severance package expected to be worth £7 million (RM36 million). It means Abramovich will have spent £28 million to fire Jose Mourinho, Avram Grant and the Brazilian coach.
Mourinho mischievously claimed at the weekend that he wants to return to Chelsea. The Portuguese is in touch with a number of the club's players and has told them he is prepared to come back in the summer, but that is wishful thinking on the part of Inter Milan's coach.
The players are preparing for a new era after Scolari's removal, which midfielder Michael Ballack admitted came after Abramovich consulted the squad.
Ballack said: “If you don't have success, people speak with each other. It's normal that he (Abramovich) comes into the dressing room to speak with the players.”
Manchester City believe they can lure Chelsea captain John Terry at the end of the season with an offer to double his £120,000-a-week wages. Sportsmail revealed on Jan 6 that City rate Terry a realistic target and Chelsea have now confirmed their interest in buying the 28-year-old. — Daily Mail