Guus Hiddink Backs Pep Guardiola To Be The Next Chelsea Boss

Guus Hiddink has his Stamford Bridge exit date scheduled for the end of May – and will then be booking a tee-off time at the nearest golf co...

Guus Hiddink has his Stamford Bridge exit date scheduled for the end of May – and will then be booking a tee-off time at the nearest golf course.

Guardiola, 44, has become football’s hottest property after announcing he is leaving Bayern Munich at the end of the season.

WANTED MAN: Guardiola is wanted by a host of Premier League clubs

The Spaniard claimed to have ruled out joining Chelsea, with Manchester clubs United and City favourites to secure his services.

But on the eve of a tricky FA Cup tie at home to Scunthorpe, Hiddink says he believes Guardiola could still end up being the boss at Stamford Bridge.

The former Barcelona chief has upset many in the game by declaring he wants his next job to be in the Premier League.

But Hiddink, 69, said: “First of all, he is not putting pressure on other managers, we are used to that.

“Unfortunately, I didn’t work in Germany but the Bundesliga is a beautiful league.

“I worked in the Spanish league for several years and La Liga is also a beautiful league.

“Pep has worked in both, so I can imagine that after having worked in those two leagues, he would express a desire to go and work in the Premier League.

“I don’t want to defend him – he is capable of doing that himself – but I think it is nothing more than a desire to go into one of the biggest leagues in the world.

“I don’t think he is playing a game, putting pressure on other clubs or managers. I think it is an expression of desire.”

Asked if he would recommend Guardiola take over the reins at Chelsea following his departure, Hiddink said: “He has shown in a very fast career – from the second team in Barcelona – that he’s capable of managing a team very well.

“It is difficult to say, ‘Hey, you must go to a particular team in the Premier League’.

“I don’t want to put more pressure on the directors or the owner to decide. Let it happen as it happens.

“Would he fit in here? He would fit into any big club in the world.”

THE BOSS: Hiddink is backing Guardiola to take over from him

Hiddink won the FA Cup in 2009 during his previous spell as the Blues’ interim boss, beating Everton 2-1 at Wembley. And he would love to repeat that feat this season.

“The other day I saw some statistics on which managers had won this,” he added.

“Worldwide, winning the FA Cup is considered to be a huge achievement.

“You get a reaction all the way from Australia through Asia and to the west coast of the United States. It’s huge.

“I have never had a cup upset in my career and that is why I am taking this game so seriously.”