Chelsea Must Focus On Youth To Become A Great Club - Guus Hiddink

[the wes 7,212]

Russia's national coach Guus Hiddink believes Chelsea must adjust their focus to become a great club.

The focus at Chelsea has been on bringing in established and experienced stars as they aim for success, a policy that Manchester United boss Sir Alex Ferguson has criticised in the past.

Chelsea have one of the oldest average ages in their squad and former blues manager, Hiddink, admits he has told the club to focus on youth.

"A club needs young players with their heart in the project to have a spirit. This has obviously been a problem for Chelsea because they have a lot of players in the 30-plus category and not so many in the young and promising age range," the Dutchman told ESPN.

"I have mentioned to the people at Chelsea that they need to address the issue as youth development is vital to any club. You don't want to be viewed as a team that merely buys ready made players, but this is the perception some have of Chelsea just now."

The London club would appear to have taken the advice on board with the capture of promising young striker Daniel Sturridge from Manchester City and Hiddink believes this renewed focus on youth can turn them into one of the greats.

"They are a club at the very top of the game, but when you consider the very biggest names in the world, Chelsea are not there yet," he added.

"In my view, they can reach this level in the not too distant future, but the only way to get there is with some time and stability at the top."

Hiddink answered a plea from Chelsea owner Roman Abramovich last season after Luiz Felipe Scolari was sacked by the club.

The Dutchman would not commit further than the end of the season but brought a breath of fresh air to the club which saw them round off the season by lifting the FA Cup at Wembley.

[NattyBlue 44]

No shit sherlock

we're a great club already

I think the change of management has had alot to do with it, hopefully longevity with Carlotti sorts it out

[Alee. 182]

Mr. Hiddink is spot once again

[Kez 2,727]

Spot on Guus, Chelsea fans are increasingly frustrated with the lack of youth coming through and players being sold on.

[gary gordon 1,777]

Great call Guus! Although i love him as a coach, i do believe he never gave not one single youth player a run in his time with us. Except Mancienne. Disanto got 3 seconds in the return leg against Liverpool at the Bridge. LOL i felt so bad for DiSanto in that game! No sooner had he stept on the pitch, The Whistle goes!

[caesarblues 51]

yeah, the club must gave them chance...

[ZanSnake 1,211]

i think the reason why Guus didn't use youth players is because he was hired so late in the season. If he had been around December then he would have had more time to watch and evaluate the youngsters.

[5354 204]

TBH, we do have some good youngsters but they just do not have the chance to get first team.

[BlueLion. 21,491]

i think the reason why Guus didn't use youth players is because he was hired so late in the season. If he had been around December then he would have had more time to watch and evaluate the youngsters.

Spot on - he was given a charge to win something, and when you are under pressure to win a trophy AND secure a CL place next season at such a late stage in the season, playing your strongest 11 is the only though that occurs to a manager.