Guus Hiddink has warned Chelsea’s flair players they must relish the “dirty work” to turn the Blues’ season on its head.
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Interim boss Hiddink tipped John Obi Mikel to spearhead a Chelsea revival, backing the Nigeria midfielder to add much-needed defensive stability to the Stamford Bridge outfit.
Hiddink warned Chelsea stars like Eden Hazard, Oscar and Willian that unless they invest in their fair share of the nitty gritty “this league will kill you”.
Chelsea swept past Crystal Palace 3-0 at Selhurst Park for Hiddink’s first Blues victory thanks to goals from Oscar, Willian and Diego Costa, while Hazard will undergo scans today to reveal the extent of a groin injury.
“We’ve started working and if the team is not doing well through a long period then you have to look for security, and that’s why we emphasised on good, hard work, tactically and a defensive way,” said Hiddink.
“I don’t like to see the team drop back very far and seek false security. When they get the ball they know to play. But they have to know when things aren’t going as wished that we have to look for causes, and that’s why we started working.
“The very talented players, they start working also, to invest in the dirty work and not just the beautiful game they can play, because this league is very demanding.
“And if you think you can do it just on your quality, what’s more given by talent than nature, then this league will kill you.”
Mikel provided the perfect buffer to Chelsea’s back four to allow the likes of Cesc Fabregas and the excellent Willian to dictate the terms of the visitors’ victory in south London.
Oscar assisted by Costa, Willian assisted by Oscar, Costa assisted by Willian. Distinctly Brazilian flavour to Chelsea’s goals today
— Tim Stillman (@Stillberto) January 3, 2016
A hapless Hazard trudged off after just 15 minutes with a groin problem. A few weeks ago Chelsea, flustered by their opponents’ pace, might have caved but they took the lead in the 28th minute. Fabregas slid a superb through ball into Costa, who pulled the ball back for Oscar to tap home his second goal in four games.
Chelsea’s ascendancy continued after the interval and as a loose ball spilled out to Willian, the winger rifled it into the top corner from 25 yards to double Chelsea’s advantage on the hour.
Six minutes later they put the game to bed as Willian’s shot was weakly parried by Hennessey, allowing Costa to poke in his third goal in two games.
Alan Pardew admitted his Palace side still crave the return to full fitness of forwards Bakary Sako, Connor Wickham and Dwight Gayle.
“Fortunately I think Sako will be up and ready for Southampton, (Yohan) Cabaye will be back, and hopefully Connor can be ready for Villa. Gayley’s not far away too,” he said.
