5 Ways By Which Hiddink Has Changed Chelsea After Mourinho’s Exit

The wave of a Dutch manager and Chelsea look a completely different side to that which was trundling at snail’s pace under Jose Mourinho. Guus Hiddink might be here only for a short while but he certainly has turned around Chelsea’s season and they might even end up in the top half of the league table.

The side are unbeaten under the Dutch manager in the league and even in the UEFA Champions League; they still have a decent chance of making it into the next round with their 2-1 loss away at PSG.

Hiddink seems to have brought the confidence back at the side and they look like a team that actually were champions of the league last season, well the demolition of Newcastle certainly showed that.

Hiddink might leave Chelsea at the end of the season but here are five things that he has changed at Chelsea and made them better:

1. The spirit in the team is back

Chelsea looked dead and buried under Jose Mourinho, they did not look like a side that believed in each other but Guus has been able to take care of that. Sure Chelsea might not be on a great winning run but some of the players do look revitalised under the Dutch manager.

While Jose Mourinho was busy picking a fight with almost every living thing in the Premier League, Guus has done the exact opposite of that. He has brought in a calm demeanour to the side and that has brought back some of the confidence in the team. Hiddink might not win the league this season but this spirit that Chelsea have should last them for quite a while, unless someone messes around with it.

2. They are free to play

One of the things that recalled played, John Obi Mikel talked about regarding Guus Hiddink’s time at the club is the freedom the players are given to play. Chelsea looked on rails under Jose Mourinho and not in a good way.

The soul of the team seemed to have been taken away and the Blues were playing pathetic football. Eden Hazard still hasn’t recovered from whatever Jose Mourinho did at the start of the season but now the team are allowed to express themselves. They might not be defending well but attacking wise they are a decent watch.

3. Mikel back in the team

Speaking of Mikel, there is one player who has joined the team, well at least gotten a chance to show what he can do for the club. Cesc Fabregas was struggling in the centre of the park and Jose Mourinho persisted with the Spaniard alongside Nemanja Matic.

Guus saw the problem and brought the Nigerian back into the side. Mikel might not be the greatest midfielder in the league but he does provide Chelsea with some stability and that has greatly helped them. He even did well in the Champions League tie and got the crucial away goal, not bad for someone who seemed to be out of Stamford Bridge a few months ago.

4. The team is energetic

The team also seems to have taken up a bit of Dutch philosophy and are running about and doing the work that is expected of them. Diego Costa, especially in the game against Newcastle seemed to be brimming with energy, the same can be said about Pedro and the rest of the Chelsea forwards.

Jose Mourinho sapped out all the energy from the team but also lamented that they did not get a proper preseason. Whether Guus has spoken to the players or changed the training regime at the club, it has worked and the Blues aren’t singing the blues anymore.

5. The Costa-Fabregas pair is delivering

One of the greatest mysteries that surrounded Chelsea this season was the dip in form of three of their players. Diego Costa, Cesc Fabregas and Eden Hazard, while the Belgian hasn’t found his form the other two are doing pretty well.

The Costa-Fabregas partnership was brilliant last season and that was exactly what they have been missing in attack this season. Guus has turned that around and both players are doing the things that got Chelsea to the top of the league last season, if only Guus had come to Chelsea at the start of the season, they might have still been in with a chance of winning the league.