In December, when Chelsea’s domestic campaign had degenerated into a snarling mess and ties were cut with José Mourinho, the default appointment of Guus Hiddink as an interim replacement appeared to carry an element of risk. He had enough experience to steady the ship but doubts centred on the squad he inherited this time round and whether last season’s champions had the strength of character to recover.
Retreat to his previous stint in charge and this club had built their revival post Luiz Felipe Scolari on the power and presence of Frank Lampard and Petr Cech, Michael Ballack and John Terry, Didier Drogba and Ashley Cole. The concern, expressed publicly by Hiddink on more than one occasion, centred on whether the current crop, bolstered by only three survivors from 2009, were blessed with the same natural born leaders to rally. A little over 10 weeks on from the divorce with Mourinho, the 69-year-old has his answer.
This was their most impressive result yet, a game where they might have wilted earlier in the campaign while Southampton were the dominant force, only to rally late on and offer evidence of spirit, stubborn self-belief and resilience: qualities more readily associated with recent Chelsea teams. Branislav Ivanovic, the stand-in captain for an injured Terry but such a liability earlier in the campaign, was more recognisable from previous years and headed in the late winner from a corner. Diego Costa riled, bullied and infuriated his markers but also chased, harried and hassled. Cesc Fàbregas and Oscar eventually imposed their influence and Eden Hazard was industrious at both ends.
Figures who had crawled into their shells as Mourinho’s tenure unravelled have been galvanised, reminded both of their underlying qualities as well as immediate responsibilities. “That’s why I’m happy players like Fàbregas are doing their job, so it’s good to see that some players step up, not just in their personal performance but also organising tactically,” Hiddink said. “With Ivanovic, he’s not a big shouter but he does deliver the short commands. As a manager, I want what we do in training and team meetings to be executed by my key players. He helps that but he’s not alone. César Azpilicueta does a lot also in the [on-field] coaching. Diego, in his own way, does a lot of coaching. I like Oscar, Willian … these guys who are gifted by nature but also take command in this team.”
This win was a reward for players and management, Hiddink having taken the bold – if also brutal – decision to hook Baba Rahman from the fray at the interval after the young full-back presented Shane Long and Southampton with the lead their excellent first-half display had merited. Kenedy, the Ghanaian’s replacement, will surely start at Norwich City on Tuesday when Terry is also unlikely to be considered.
Ronald Koeman takes his team down the coast to Bournemouth and will do so far from panicked, despite a first defeat in seven weeks and the shipping of their first goals for more than 10-and-a-half hours. “I’m not a person who is disappointed to lose a game like this,” he said. “We had a good run but if we win the next game we’ll be back in the position we want to be in. It is all about the spirit of the team and, if we can keep that with the quality of the players we have, then we can finish in a high position.”
Certainly, their rare strength in depth was demonstrated by the quality of those on the hosts’ bench. The state of Long’s hamstring is a concern before the derby at Dean Court, the Irishman having limped off while his team still led on Saturday, but this team should not be perturbed by a slender defeat. Even so, Chelsea, with Paris Saint-Germain in the Champions League and an FA Cup quarter-final at Everton to come, can be hugely encouraged in victory.
Man of the match Willian (Chelsea)
