Guus Hiddink credits ‘dirty work’ with inspiring Chelsea turnaround since Jose Mourinho exit

The Blues beat Crystal Palace 3-0 at Selhurst Park to edge away from the relegation zone

Guus Hiddink (GETTY IMAGES)

Guus Hiddink praised his Chelsea players for doing the “dirty work” to take them to a 3-0 victory against Crystal Palace. Chelsea produced an impressive performance, marrying hard work with attacking skill, earning the plaudits of the manager, who has only been in charge for two weeks.

“If a team is not doing well for a very long period, it is human to look for security,” Hiddink said afterwards. “That is why we emphasised the hard work, tactically and defensively. I don’t like to see a team drop very far back, to seek ‘false security’, but to look forwards and get the ball as soon as possible.”

Hiddink was delighted with how his players had stayed on the front foot to press for the win after taking the lead through Oscar in the 29th minute. “We don’t need to add to the quality of the players. But the talented players, they have started to invest in what I call the dirty work, and not just the beautiful game. Because this league is very demanding. And if you think that you can do it just on your quality, this league is killing you.”

John Terry said that Chelsea were back to their attacking best of last season, thanks to the new feel engendered by Hiddink at the club. “Guus has been great since he has come in,” Terry said. “The atmosphere has changed a bit. The players seem more relaxed and that has gone onto the pitch. The new man has come in, like he did last time [2009], he has picked everyone up and we have gone again.”

John Obi Mikel made his second consecutive start in central midfield, and Hiddink praised the Nigerian midfielder for his contribution since replacing Nemanja Matic. “He played very well, he is the ideal player to bring balance to the team,” Hiddink said. “He knows how to read the game very well, he knows the strength of the opponent, and how to cope with that. He has a very good eye, very good nose, very good sense where to recover. And he doesn’t do it in a very brutal way. He is very, very elegant.”

The one piece of bad news for Chelsea was Eden Hazard having to leave the field with a groin injury which will be assessed.

Alan Pardew claimed it was a game too far for his Crystal Palace squad, who were without key players. “You want a full strength squad at all times and a strong bench as well,” Pardew said. “I should not even have put Bakary Sako on the bench, I just felt I needed to have him to give my team a bit of belief. That is where we are at the moment, with our key players missing. Fortunately, going to Southampton [in the FA Cup on Saturday], Sako will be ready to play, and [Yohan ] Cabaye will be back.

“Chelsea deserved to win today make no mistake,” Pardew added. “The mentality to weather the storm during the first 30 minutes was good and then when they got the goal they produced the quality they’ve got.”