Guus Hiddink insists Chelsea are ready to step up the pressure on Manchester United in the Premier League title race after claiming a third successive victory under the Dutch manager.
Frank Lampard’s injury-time winner secured a 2-1 success over Wigan on Saturday that moved Hiddink’s side above Liverpool and into second place, seven points adrift of leaders United.
Hiddink concedes the possibility of overhauling Sir Alex Ferguson’s side is remote, particularly with Edwin van der Sar on an astonishing run that has seen the United keeper keep a clean sheet in his last 14 league games.
But Chelsea’s fortunes have undoubtedly been revived since Hiddink succeeded sacked Brazilian Luiz Felipe Scolari and the manager is refusing to rule out a late season title charge.
“I’m rather realistic, that’s to say we have to first win our games, and hopefully a little bit more comfortably than we did here,” Hiddink said.
“And then we have to ask Edwin van der Sar if he likes to have this ball in the back of his net. And I know him very well so I don’t think he’s willing to do so.
“So that means a stable team like Manchester United, let’s face the facts, are in a good seat.
“But as long as we have the possibility, as long as it’s not decided, we will keep going and that is what we have proven last week at Villa Park and here.
“As long as the team is keeping up this fighting spirit we keep on going for the things that can be reached at the end.”
Hiddink admits he has been impressed by the response of his squad during his 10-day reign at Stamford Bridge and singled out skipper John Terry - the scorer of the first goal against Wigan - and Lampard for their efforts.
Didier Drogba has also been transformed after being frozen out under Scolari, but the manager insists the Ivorian’s improvement is entirely down to the player himself.
Hiddink added: “I hope I said something special to all the players so we can improve.
“I said something to all the team and now and again I say things to individual players on the training pitch or whatever and he reacted very well. I’m not able to judge what was before.
“But any player who is in a big club must motivate themselves. I must not motivate players, the motivation must come from the inside.
“If it’s not good I have to challenge that but I have not had to do that since I came here.”
Wigan manager Steve Bruce was left frustrated by Lampard’s winner that denied his side the opportunity to press their claims for a place in next season’s UEFA Cup.
Bruce felt Lampard had pushed Wigan skipper Mario Melchiot as he rose to head the winning goal and claimed that an unfortunate pattern was emerging when his side faced the league’s top teams away from home.
The manager said: “In my opinion the referee has made a poor decision. He’s only 15 yards away from it. Frank’s obviously got his hand on Mario’s back, that’s what I initially thought and I’ve just seen it on the television too and it’s obvious he’s got that one wrong.
“It’s gone against us and that’s a big shame because the team deserved to get something from the match.
“We’ve played well and got nothing but we’ve done the same at Old Trafford, we’ve done the same at Liverpool, and now here.
“I was speaking to Sam Allardyce (Blackburn Rovers manager) this week, and we don’t seem to get those decisions on the big stage. We need the referee to be strong and see what he sees and don’t get influenced which seems to happen all the time. It’s very frustrating and disappointing.”
