Guus Hiddink’s management of Didier Drogba, whilst a lot more subtle than Jose Mourinho’s was, seems to be every bit as effective.

The temporary Chelsea boss hasn’t come in shouting about how much better our players are than anyone else, how the world is against his team and they deserve better, or how special he is. He’s come in quietly, talking realistically about the job he’s facing and the resources he’s got to do it with – and he’s been careful not to get involved in anything that’s gone on before him.

Of course, he could take a pop at our former manager considering the apparent shambles that was left behind – but he hasn’t. He could big himself up because his record in his first six games has surpassed that of our most successful manager to date – but he hasn’t. He could even publicly criticise any of our players he thinks have lacked a little effort – again, he hasn’t.

Because he doesn’t need to.

Hiddink is clearly a man comfortable with his own achievements, a man who’s self assurance is just that. He knows what he’s there to do and he knows how to go about it – or so it would seem so far. And when it comes to his players, he knows how to get what he needs out of them without facilitating the growth of already sizeable egos.

It wasn’t that long ago we heard Didier Drogba saying Hiddink hardly talks to him and yet somehow, he’s getting him to perform how he should. But surely Mourinho showed us that Drogba’s a player who’s major motivator is being loved? And yet Hiddink has barely spoken to the Ivorian, so how does that work?

Like I said, he goes about it in a much more subtle way.

Take his comment after the Juventus game, for example. Hiddink says of the Chelsea striker “He’s very important, how he’s showing his commitment and how he’s always busy.  He doesn’t give you, as a central defender, an easy night. When he scores, it’s even better. He’s doing very well. For the second goal, he came just ahead of his marker. That’s a sign that he is sharp.”

And there it is. In just a few sentences, Hiddink has discounted just about every bit of negativity levelled at Drogba this season. Do we need Drogba? Hiddink reckons we do. Is he committed? Hiddink suggests he is. But is he fit? Again Hiddink has given an affirmative response.

Clever eh?

Filed under: Current Players, Rants