Hiddink rues sloppy Chelsea; praises Loftus-Cheek

Rob Conlon
Guus Hiddink: Manager felt Chelsea lacked cutting edge

Guus Hiddink: Manager felt Chelsea lacked cutting edge

Guus Hiddink admits Chelsea were outclassed in the 3-0 defeat to Manchester City, but took positives from Ruben Loftus-Cheek’s display.

Interim Chelsea boss Hiddink admitted his side deserved to be beaten as they missed out on a chance to leapfrog Stoke into ninth place.

“It was a bad defeat because first of all we were playing a very strong team,” the Dutchman said.

“Manchester City are proven to be a very strong team, not just this season but in the last weeks. It is not for nothing that they are in the last four in Europe.

“It is good to see that team unless you have to play them. We made some mistakes and had some control in the first half.

“We were warned they could have a beautiful counter-attack to harm us and it happened from our corner and made a beautiful goal for them.

“The second was similar and they had a counter as well. It means we were in control without having the ultimate bite to kill it off.

“When you are 2-0 down it is difficult. On top of that we had the red card and then it is totally different. Of course we are disappointed but this is a team which is very experienced.”

With Italy coach Antonio Conte set to take over in the summer, Hiddink has taken the chance to give some youngsters a taste of first-team action with the likes of Loftus-Cheek, Bertrand Traore, Kenedy and Baba Rahman all involved.

“They must show themselves,” Hiddink said of the Chelsea squad in the closing weeks of the campaign.

“That is why we have put some young players in. We might not win any silverware, but give them a chance against strong teams to get them experience and I must say to pick out Loftus-Cheek, he is starting his third game and is gathering the experience to be grown up.”