Premier League - Hiddink bows out of Bridge

Eurosport - Mon, 18 May 08:56:00 2009

Chelsea beat Blackburn Rovers 2-0 in the Premier League in manager Guus Hiddink's final game at Stamford Bridge.

2008-2009 Chelsea-Blackburn Guus Hiddink - 0

Florent Malouda and Nicolas Anelka scored in each half as the home side strolled to a comprehensive victory amid a celebratory atmosphere.

Hiddink took over for the remainder of the season following the sacking of Luiz Felipe Scolari in February, with the Blues in danger of dropping out of the top four.

Now they have secured an automatic berth in the Champions League group stage, reached the FA Cup final and come within a dodgy penalty decision or four of earning a chance to atone for last season's agonising European final defeat to Manchester United.

The Dutchman stood up and bowed to the Stamford Bridge faithful in the second half as the crowd chanted 'Roman, sign him up'.

Hiddink has remained deaf to the pleas for him to stay from the Chelsea faithful, while Roman Abramovich simply cannot undermine his position at the Russian FA by removing the national team manager and installing him permanently in London.

Carlo Ancelotti and Frank Rijkaard remain the favourites to take over, but whoever replaces Hiddink will inherit a formidable squad.

Much has been made of the large number of older players, but the likes of Frank Lampard and Didier Drogba are players at their peak who have at least one more year left at the highest level.

Lampard and John Terry can be to Chelsea what Ryan Giggs and Paul Scholes are to Manchester United; exemplary figures and model professionals capable of performing at the highest level well into their 30s.

The gradual emergence of wide men Malouda and Salomon Kalou gives further cause for optimism at Stamford Bridge, while Joe Cole will return at the start of next season.

Malouda's goal was a peach. With less than four minutes gone, Jose Bosingwa released Anelka down the right, and he crossed for his fellow Frenchman Malouda who got in front of Keith Andrews and buried a powerful header from15 yards.

By that point, there had already been chances at both ends, with Morten Gamst Pedersen firing straight at Petr Cech in the first minute, followed quickly by a Lampard shot that was blocked by Gael Givet.

Anelka fired straight at Paul Robinson from eight yards after Ashley Cole teed him up before Lampard went close again on 18 minutes, striking his first-time shot against the woodwork.

Blackburn also played with a sense of freedom allowed by their safety from relegation. Vince Grella saw a shot blocked before Chris Samba sent an acrobatic volley wide.

Stand-in striker Samba then sent a close-range head over before returning to his more familiar position at centre-back after an injury forced off Rovers captain Ryan Nelsen.

The second half proved an absolute stroll for Chelsea, especially after Anelka put away the second goal.

The striker fired a low shot into the left corner from the edge of the box on 59 minutes, moving level with Cristiano Ronaldo at the top of the Premier League scoring charts on 18.

With Ronaldo likely to be rested for Manchester United's trip to Hull on the final day, Anelka has a great opportunity to take the prize outright when Chelsea travel to Sunderland next Sunday.

Alex Chick / Eurosport

Comment 115 - 134 of 134

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  1. hiddink should stay. Roman convince this great coach to­ stay at at s/bridge

    From richard, on Wed 20 May 2:20PM

  2. He has been able to raise chelsea's game. He has­ all it takes to coach both a national team and a club.­ I think it will be great if Abrahamovich and the entire­ chelsea board can convince him to stay and help them­ get a major trophy. GUUS HIDDINK is a coach anyday.

    From dee-one, on Tue 19 May 5:48PM

  3. I REALLY APPRICIATE THE JOB WELL DONE BY THE CHELSEA­ COACH, HE TRY AS GREAT MAN, I WAS SO CONFUSED WHEN­ SCOLARI WAS THERE, CHELSEA CON'DT WIN ANY OF THE­ BIG THREE, I THANK GOD FOR THIS GUUS (CHELSEA COACH)­ WHO BRING US BACK TO LIFE, I DONT KNOW WHAT TO SAY­ UNTILL THE FINAL OF FA CUP. ALL U HAVE TO KNOW AS­ CHELSEA FAN IS THAT THE CL WAS IN OUR SIDE BUT DUE TO­ UEFA DO NOT WANT TWO ENGLISH CLUB TO BE AT THE FINAL IF­ NOT AT LEAST ONE OUT OF FOUR WOULD HAVE BEEN GIVEN. I­ BELIEVE IN CHELSEA TILL DEATH DO US PART STANLO A­ NIGERIAN ONE MORE THING AS A CHL FAN U HAVE TO AWARE­ THAT THE WHOLE WORLD HATE (DISLIKE) CHELSEA I DONT KNOW­ WHY

    From stanlo4chelsea, on Tue 19 May 9:35AM

  4. God bless Hindik Guss, i pray for his long life and­ prosperity
    as he has made us whom we are this season, i­ greet LAmpard, JT, Dr. Drogba,
    A.Cole, Malouda, Anelka,­ Kalou, The abled man Cech, Ballack, Ivanovic, Meme John­ Obi, Strongest man Essien,
    please if i did not­ mentioned your name i will next time forgive me i love­ you all chelsea 4 life.

    Guss we bow for you as you did­ to us.......love u.

    From national president u, on Mon 18 May 7:35PM

  5. i think guuse hiddink should stay at CHELSEA

    From Anna, on Mon 18 May 5:48PM

  6. Hi,

    Its just like us fans are orphans who just got a­ new foster dad in Guus Hiddink, the relationship he­ developed with the Team and the fans was brilliant and­ his conduct as the face of Chelsea won over lost hearts­ and minds of the past. We respect his achievements so­ much we want him now to permanently adopt us!

    Guus you­ are the daddy of Chelsea - don't leave us Guus!

    From Midnight, on Mon 18 May 5:47PM

  7. Guus did well at chelsea nothing bad about him. A­ brilliant russian manager.

    From Nath, on Mon 18 May 3:43PM

  8. Guus,l believe d whole world is appreciating ur effort­ & see as one of the best coach in d universe.would­ Wenger,Benitez & rest of d coaches forget u?Not­ even Guadiola,the coach of d self acclaimed"best­ team in d world"(Barca).Anyway,they know UEFA put­ them where they are.USELESS BARCA,SHAME!

    From Seyi, on Mon 18 May 1:54PM

  9. hiddink what a great man. a man of courage.thanks alot­ 4 what u have to chelsea dis season,on behave of­ chelsea fans in nigeria, i will like 2 say a very big­ thank u and will u d best in russia national team. 4rm­ rahmon olore

    From Rahmon, on Mon 18 May 11:56AM

  10. Thanks Gus, it's been a pleasure......

    From richard, on Mon 18 May 11:49AM

  11. please guus stay your exemplary record this year is­ evidence that exciting time sare in store for chelsea­ nexts eason.

    From paleondrome, on Mon 18 May 9:58AM

  12. good bye Guus,see u wenu get there. Chelsea 4 life

    From Nony, on Mon 18 May 9:57AM

  13. we are very grateful for such a wonderful job that God­ had used u for in chelsea.u are going to be bless until­ people call u blessing.
    great hiddink , greatest­ chelsea 4 life.if God be for u no one can be against­ us.

    From 4real, on Mon 18 May 9:49AM

  14. Thanks GUUS and hope u will take a decisions that best­ for ur future

    From Munga, on Mon 18 May 9:49AM

  15. THANK YOU GOD FOR EVERYTHING YOU HAVE DONE FOR US THIS­ YEAR , WE ARE GREATFUL FOR GUSS HIDDINK , THANK YOU­ GUSS WE LOVE YOU AND SAY LONG LIVE !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!­ GOD WILLING MAY JOSE COME BACK NEXT SEASON WITH ZLATAN­ IBRAHIMOVIC AND TAKE OVER !!!!!!!!! PLEASE HERE OUR­ PRAYERS LORD AND BLESS CHELSEA !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

    From Leo, on Mon 18 May 9:16AM

  16. The true blue appreciate what Guus has done, and wish­ him the best in Russia! Wish he could stay, though

    From JD, on Mon 18 May 8:43AM

  17. well done potato ,,,call me later.... by the way do you­ like italian food ... regards... jose ps leave­ drogba there...

    From tom, on Mon 18 May 8:38AM

  18. Thanx to Guus,he has done an excellent job wish he was­ staying.There before it was said he will become a­ Chelsea consultant,can he advise Abrom to bring the­ great Riikard former Baca and i think they have gud­ relationship with Guus.

    From pnjonju, on Mon 18 May 7:44AM

  19. Im United, but i really respect Hiddink, its a pity he­ is not staying but he has really made a landmark

    stan

    From uches, on Mon 18 May 7:06AM

  20. All the very best to 'GH' for the future ...­ Whatever it may bring. Maybe one day, we can bring him­ back to The Bridge! Many thanks to 'The Tug Boat­ Captain'. With great respect and admiration for­ Jose Mourinho, it is the awesome consistency that will­ be Hiddink's legacy at Chelsea. Had he beeen in­ place at the begining of the season, I believe The­ Blues would have been invincible.

    Thanks again.

    From Rob, on Mon 18 May 7:05AM
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