Hiddink admits to differences between Courtois and coach

Mark Holmes
Thibaut Courtois: Reportedly not happy working with Chelsea's goalkeeping coach

Thibaut Courtois: Reportedly not happy working with Chelsea's goalkeeping coach

Guus Hiddink has admitted to there being differences between Thibaut Courtois and Chelsea’s goalkeeping coach Christophe Lollichon.

It was reported on Friday morning that Courtois had held a meeting with incoming Chelsea boss Antonio Conte in which he said he only wanted to remain at Stamford Bridge if Lollichon was replaced.

That request has apparently been refused by Chelsea chiefs, but Hiddink does not necessarily believe it means Courtois will move on this summer.

He said: “They (Courtois and Lollichon) are different personalities, we don’t neglect that. But they do well. They are very professional and they work hard.

“The most important thing is that Courtois has recently said he is very happy at Chelsea and he will stay at the club.

“We are all different personalties as well. But you have to cope and you have to be very professional to each other and they do.

“I check the training and it is mostly separate to the group. I see full commitment of executing the exercises.”

Hiddink won’t make wholesale changes

Commitment is something Hiddink also promised Chelsea will show at Sunderland on Saturday.

“We are going into the last three games with the same attitude,” he said.

“(Sunderland) have to win and we want to win. It’s the same situation as against Spurs. We give them as much resistance as we have.

“All the teams still fighting to avoid relegation deserve the same approach in our seriousness.

“No guarantee that we can win, but we go for a win of course.”

Chelsea go to Liverpool next Wednesday before hosting Leicester on the final day, with Claudio Ranieri’s Foxes promised a warm welcome at Stamford Bridge.

“First I like to win,” Hiddink said.

“We will give them a guard of honour, win and then give them another guard of honour. That is a nice scenario.”

Eden Hazard’s equaliser against Spurs launched the Leicester party, but Hiddink would not confirm if there was a farewell shindig planned for John Terry.

The 35-year-old Chelsea captain, who has made over 700 appearances since his debut in October 1998, is out of contract this summer and is yet to agree an extension.

On the reports Terry has booked Stamford Bridge for a party, Hiddink said: “I hope I will be invited. I don’t know. You have to ask him.”