Chelsea are in a relegation battle
Guus
Hiddink claims Chelsea are in a relegation battle. The reigning
champions are 14th after 21 games and have put up the weakest title
defence of the Premier League era.
Chelsea are 12 points off fourth place and only six clear of Sunderland, who occupy the final relegation spot.
‘It’s
a very realistic view,’ said the interim Chelsea manager, whose side
host Everton on Saturday. ‘Twelve points to Tottenham in fourth. We all
like to look up to the top of the table but don’t be unrealistic when
you’re six points off the relegation line.
‘We must
work hard and be very concentrated and step up. That’s why it was a pity
about the 86th-minute equaliser we conceded against West Brom.
‘When
I arrived, we started one point off the relegation line and now we have
more room to breathe. We have two difficult games coming up. Everton, a
very good away record, and then Arsenal.’
The
Dutchman also warned Chelsea not do anything ‘stupid’ in the January
transfer market as they seek a solution for their shortage of strikers.
The club are in talks about signing Alexandre Pato from Corinthians and a
short-term deal for the former AC Milan striker will appeal to a club
reluctant to jeopardise summer plans.
Hiddink
is without Eden Hazard, has ruled out injured Colombian Radamel Falcao
for up to eight weeks and the 69-year-old claims he is prepared to trust
youngsters like Kenedy, 19, and 20-year-old Bertrand Traore.
‘You
must be rather desperate if you bring in players in January,’ said
Hiddink. ‘Chelsea must look at today’s situation but, also, the summer
situation regarding signings. So you must be careful not to do stupid
things.’
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