Hiddink on Hazard, Miazga, Baba, Ibrahimovic, Pato’s fitness and Mikel’s ‘freedom’ comment

Guus Hiddink was asked about a number of issues ahead of
this weekend’s FA Cup game against Manchester City.
Here’s a round-up of what the Chelsea boss had to say at
Friday’s news conference.
On John Terry
“He will not be fit for this weekend. He worked with the
physios [and] yesterday he was trying a bit on the pitch, but
still too many problems to be fit for the weekend. I think we
have to be a bit cautious with him as well. I hope next
weekend he will be available.
“Of course it’s a disappointment, because he’s the leader of
this club and this team but on the other hand I am not
going to complain. In Paris, they had a decent performance
our central defenders [Branislav Ivanovic and Gary Cahill].”
On Matt Miazga
“He is close. He is fit. We are doing some tests and we’ll
get results but I think he will be fit. What the weekend will
bring, it’s too early at this moment.”
On Eden Hazard
“He was in a difficult situation but he has to step up, he
knows that. We have our talks with him every now and
then, small conversations [on] how to step up to the next
level. That’s what his wish is. I hope that he will step up as
soon as possible.
“Sometimes he shows what he is able to do. I remember
once he had a sprint on our right-hand side – that’s the old
Hazard and we hope to see that more frequently. He’s
aware of that, now it’s up to him to step up.”
Hazard has looked ell short of his best this season
On Hazard’s future
“Every now and then I have very short conversations with
him, asking about the situation. He is very keen to be here,
he has extended his contract, his family’s happy here.
There was no sign from his side to say ‘no, I’m eager to
go’.
“We will encourage him and talk to him about performance
as we do with all the players. Then it’s up to him. I don’t
want to focus too much on that [his future]. All the world is
just focusing on him. We have more players who must
bring, and can bring, the effort.”
On John Mikel Obi saying Hiddink has allowed the team
more freedom
“A lot of people misunderstand ‘freedom’. When you think
of ‘freedom’ [you think] ‘I can do anything I like, I can go
anywhere, I can do what I will’.
“It’s more the feeling that, in every position, you have the
feeling of responsibility. Everyone has to take his
responsibility to do the job he’s been asked.
“We prepare the team at training, we prepare the team in
the team meetings, and then the execution is theirs, with a
lot of responsibility. Big players have to step up in big
games.”
Mikel has enjoyed a run in the side under Hiddink
On City boss Manuel Pellegrini resting some players
“We have a serious approach to the FA Cup. My well-
respected colleague [Pellegrini] might also have a lot of
interest in the FA Cup, so let’s see what happens on
Sunday. We’ll take ourselves and them very seriously.
“If one, two or three young players are put in the squad, I
bet they go for 120% of effort, so it’s not always a
favour. [It’s] the same here. We have youngsters for
instance like Bertrand Traore – he’s so ambitious, he’s
training well, he’s learning every week.”
On whether the FA Cup should be a midweek competition
without replays
“I’m in favour of that [midweek games] and having the
weekends for the Premier League. Until you go to the final
stages of the FA Cup, semi-finals and final – then the whole
world likes to see it, because of its importance, on the
weekends.
“Scrap replays? We have a very tight schedule for all the
big clubs playing in Europe. On the other hand, I think for
smaller clubs it’s a big adventure to have the opportunity,
when they make a good result, to have a second leg.
“We should not just think of the big ones – of course, try to
get a good schedule in the Premier League but also not
forget the clubs that love to play against the big clubs as
well. The FA Cup is a charming tournament.”
On Baba Rahman
“He is a gifted player, he’s a technical player. He’s good
going forward – he is very calm when he is playing on the
ball. He has to focus also on his backtracking when he has
to defend. He is focusing on making an improvement in
that area, which is important for this very competitive
league.”
Summer signing Baba has impressed in his recent outings for
Chelsea
On Zlatan Ibrahimovic apparently wanting a move to the
Premier League
“He is a star player already for many years. He is putting
his effort in with a big club, which I think Paris St-Germain
has grown to. It’s up to a club to sign him.”
On Manchester City’s dip in form
“They were a bit unlucky in the last games [against
Leicester and Tottenham] but a big team always reacts. A
big team cannot afford, or doesn’t want, an array of
defeats. They don’t allow that. So we are warned.”
On winning the FA Cup in 2009
“It’s something from the past but it’s an achievement for
the club and everyone involved, including me. Winning the
FA Cup is a prestigious prize in England but also
worldwide. It’s a worldwide-recognised big prize.”
On Alexandre Pato
“He’s now at the stage of two-and-a-half to three weeks of
pre-season and we’ll see what will happen. He’s getting
fitter and fitter and we’ll see what the results are of the
tests that we did today.”