Versatility pleases Hiddink
Chelsea interim coach Guus Hiddink believes the squad's adaptability could hold the key to success on three fronts this season.
Chelsea remain unbeaten since the Dutch coach agreed to take charge of the squad and they have reached the quarter-finals of the Champions League and semi-finals of the FA Cup. However, following four straight league wins, Hiddink has been boosted by the squad's versatility as they prepare for two tricky away games at Tottenham and Newcastle.
"I've seen what each of my players can do," said Hiddink. "I knew some things about them before I arrived and now, from working with these players every day, I know much more about them."
He added: "This is a squad that can challenge on all fronts until the end and that's what we are aiming to do.
"At Coventry we played with three forwards - one striker and two wingers - and against Juventus we started with two strikers.
"In both games we scored twice and controlled them in spells. It shows me that this team can adapt to different ways of playing and we have the squad to change in this way if the situation needs it.
"We have also demonstrated an attitude to recover from setbacks. We came back twice against Juventus to win the tie on aggregate.
"With two more away games against Tottenham and Newcastle, it is not the easiest run of games for us and we'll need to be at our best but we have shown that we can be versatile, both in our approach and in our systems of play."
