Chelsea owner Roman Abramovich may fail to persuade Guus Hiddink to return, giving Carlo Ancelotti a reprieve

Chelsea owner Roman Abramovich may fail to persuade Guus Hiddink to return, giving Carlo Ancelotti a reprieve

Roman Abramovich is growing increasingly concerned that he may fail to persuade Guus Hiddink to replace Carlo Ancelotti as Chelsea manager at the end of this season. If Hiddink remains unpersuaded, it opens up the smallest chance that, against all the odds, Ancelotti could stay for one more year.

Under threat: Carlo Ancelotti could be replaced this summmer Photo: REUTERS

By Jason Burt 11:00PM BST 06 May 2011

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Hiddink made it clear to Abramovich earlier this season, and then again after Chelsea’s Champions League exit, that he did not feel able to return to Stamford Bridge as manager.

The 64-year-old Dutchman is coach of Turkey and has stated that he will not break his contract. However, failure to stay in contention for the play-offs for Euro 2012 would change that situation and it is believed that Hiddink might not be happy in his present role.

His links to Abramovich are strong and, according to sources, the Chelsea owner would have Hiddink back in whatever capacity he wanted, preferably as manager rather than director of football.

It is also believed that Hiddink is is being courted by Inter Milan and that he may prefer to live in Italy rather than return to Chelsea where he was a successful caretaker manager after Luiz Felipe Scolari was sacked.

It is understood that Abramovich still intends to replace Ancelotti even if the Italian successfully retains the Premier League title. There is a belief from those close to the billionaire that Ancelotti did not do enough to turn around the club’s fortunes earlier in the season despite the sacking of assistant Ray Wilkins.

Abramovich is also believed to be ready to hand Avram Grant a role in the technical staff if, as expected, he leaves West Ham United this summer.

If Hiddink cannot be persuaded then other candidates will be considered. Former Holland coach Marco Van Basten features among those as does, although less likely, Porto’s Andre Villas-Boas who worked for Chelsea as part of Jose Mourinho’s backroom staff.
Telegraph.feedsportal.com