Bring on the Villa

Last updated : 19 February 2009 By Paul Lagan

It's closed ranks time at SW6 as Chelsea prepare to salvage their season.
You can't help but fall over players gushing about how much they are looking forward to working with Guus Hiddink and how great the unity is within the squad and what's all this nonsense about it being a problem season etc?

The 3-1 FA Cup win over Watford was laboured and at times distressing to watch when you compare the relative positions each team are in.
One journalist was heard to comment that Chelsea could hold their own against any team in the Championship on that performance - Ouch!

Guus Hiddink will be in picking the side this week, ably assisted by Ray Wilkins.
It's yet to be decided if Hiddink will bring anyone into the club but Uncle Ray - the former voice of soft drink Tango - is certainly the Blues number two until the end of the season at least.
I hope he gets the job full-time come July.

It was lovely to see many of the normally unseen backroom staff helping out in the past two weeks.

Try and make a point of watching the pre-match exercises and you will see Paul Clement and others getting the boys up and ready for the match.
It's certainly not a betting game, trying to identify Chelsea's next manager or even the one after that, but I am certain that it won't be too long before reserve team boss Clement is given the top job at a club.
I have a lot of time for him, having spoken to the brother of ex-Chelsea Neil Clement on numerous occasions.
He appears dedicated, alert, and open to fresh ideas. I wish him well on his reserve team duties.
The best news of the week was that Michael Essien can see the end of his long injury tunnel.
It won't be enough to save Chelsea's league season, but given a bit of luck, Michael will be back for the final stages of the Champions' League and FA Cup.
Now all we need is Ricardo Carvalho to be properly fit.