Guus Hiddink hopes he can coax Colombian striker Radamel Falcao back into something approaching his pre-January 2014 form as the Dutch coach now in charge of Chelsea tries to widen his selection options ahead of their Boxing Day game against Watford.
Hiddink came into the training ground on Sunday to check on the form and fitness of Falcao and speak to him, while the rest of the squad had a day off following their win over Sunderland. Falcao’s loan move to Chelsea this season has so far not been a success with only one league start and one goal, and he had been overlooked in recent weeks despite having returned from injury.
Hiddink was at Stamford Bridge on Saturday
The striker had a longstanding calf injury which initially ruled him out from the start of November. He last featured as a substitute in the defeat by Liverpool at the end of October. Jose Mourinho, the former manager, had a good relationship with the 29-year-old, and they shared an agent, Jorge Mendes, but no longer felt he was able to trust him as results deteriorated.
Falcao has been watching home games in the area used by non-playing squad members behind the dugouts. His loan agreement could come up for review next month. In order to cancel it, Chelsea would have to reach an agreement with Falcao’s parent club, Monaco. There have been suggestions that Barcelona might take him as cover.
His departure from Chelsea would free up a non-homegrown place among the Champions League squad.
Hiddink will take his first training session with the full Chelsea squad on Tuesday, the first time they have been together at Cobham since owner Roman Abramovich told the players results must improve post-Mourinho.
Falcao in Chelsea training
The interim coach decided a two-day rest after the Sunderland game would be in the players’ interests as they approach the difficult Christmas schedule.
Hiddink has resisted making changes to the backroom staff who have stayed on beyond the sacking of Mourinho. He will keep as his assistant Steve Holland, who described himself as a “club appointment” on Saturday and therefore not part of the clearout of Portuguese staff who largely follow Mourinho wherever he works.
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Eddie Newton, formerly part of Michael Emenalo’s department monitoring loan players, will also stay on the bench with Holland.
Fitness coach Chris Jones and goalkeeper coach Christophe Lollichon will remain among the backroom staff. There are still no moves in place to find a role for the former striker and fans’ favourite Didier Drogba, who is contracted to the MLS franchise Montreal Impact.
Drogba was at the match on Saturday to watch from Abramovich’s private box, along with Hiddink.
Chelsea’s focus now is on appointing the right manager in the summer with the club confident of landing a big-name coach even if they do not have Champions League football to offer him.
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