Hiddink aims to leave Chelsea with silverware

Guus Hiddink believes his no-nonsense style can help Chelsea enjoy a successful end to his brief reign.

Hiddink has made a significant impact since replacing Luiz Felipe Scolari but the Dutchman, speaking ahead of Tuesday's Champions League clash with Liverpool, confirmed Chelsea chairman Bruce Buck's admission that he will not stay beyond the end of this season.

The Blues are firm favourites to advance to the Champions League semi-finals by finishing off Liverpool in the last eight second leg at Stamford Bridge.

Hiddink's side lead 3-1 after last week's stunning performance at Anfield, leaving Liverpool needing to score at least three goals to have any hope of a miraculous win.

Russia coach Hiddink has lost just one game since taking over as interim manager and he revealed his decision not to establish close friendships with any of his squad has allowed him to give a much-needed rocket to some of the players who underachieved during Scolari's reign.

"We're not close. I have to take decisions against some players because they're not playing," Hiddink said.

"They might be out of shape, or for tactical reasons. I like to have a very direct, open relationship with my players. I don't want to have a relationship where I might play games with them.

"I don't like that. I have an open relationship. Then I can challenge them with an open mind and an open face. But, on the other hand, a manager should not be having bonds and friendships.

"That's maybe after we have done our job in this club. I like a very straightforward, direct approach because then you can challenge them in a way to be professional.

"There's one aim. The aim is to get to the next round. If players are under-performing just knowing that the manager is leaving at the end of the season, it's not the right professional attitude.

"We're very sharp on that attitude. Even though I'm not here next year, they have to respond. If they don't, they're not equipped to be at a big club."

Hiddink's squad has the perfect opportunity to demonstrate they are equipped to be at Chelsea when they face a Liverpool side that has nothing to lose.

Even though the Reds have not scored three goals at Stamford Bridge in two decades, Hiddink's side inadvertently gave them inspiration on Saturday.

Chelsea, 4-0 to the good with 20 minutes left against Bolton, allowed Wanderers to score three times in nine minutes in a seven-goal thriller.

But Hiddink insists Chelsea have no intention of sitting back and defending their lead.

"It cannot be a cautious game where you have a kind of balance in a game where nothing happens for an hour, then maybe a team takes some risks at the end," he said.

"That's not in both team's souls. We have to go for the win at home.

"There is no such reason, whatever the team you are playing against, but especially Liverpool with what they did in the past, to have complacency."



A boy rides his bike at sunset in a park in Bucharest, Romania.AP Photo/Vadim Ghirda

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