Hiddink on Remy’s future, Pato’s fitness, Newcastle, ticket prices and his ‘Zorro team’

Guus Hiddink was asked about a number of issues at his pre-match news conference ahead of this weekend’s game against Newcastle. Here’s a rundown of what the Chelsea boss had to say.

On an injury to Diego Costa
“Yesterday in training Diego got in a duel and got his nose broken. It was [involving] one of the youngsters of the academy, who we like to participate in our games.

“He put his nose on the back of the head in a duel – he was very unlucky. He will return today [Friday] because it’s the day they try to give him a mask. We are a team with a lot of masks – kind of a Zorro team! Azpi [Cesar Azpilicueta], [Nemanja] Matic, now Diego.

“But today he will come back and do some light training, because he must also have some experience in dealing with the fitting of the mask. Then he will come back in the hotel later on.

“It was a very small incident, but it’s very fragile when you have your nose on the back of the head of a firm young man. I think he will be available [against Newcastle]. We must see how he will react to the very light session.”

On Costa’s importance and the threat of injuries to key players
“He’s a key man, scoring frequently. He’s showing for weeks that he is of big importance for the team. Also, when everyone was very critical of him, I think he controlled himself very well and focused on his job. We are very happy with his performance on the pitch, and also outside the pitch.

“But when things happen [to players], we go ahead with the people available, and with confidence. Key players are important. On the other hand it gives other people chances to step up. Sometimes the unexpected can happen.”

On Kurt Zouma’s season-ending injury
“I called him just a few hours before the operation and tried to encourage him. But surprisingly he was having a mood as if nothing had happened. He was very confident.

“He had his operation, which I think went well. But it [the injury] was severe, it was tough. He is out for months so it’s a sporting tragedy for him, just in a period when I think he was improving in all aspects of his game.

“Not being able to play with us in the Champions League in France [against Paris St-Germain], not being able to be a candidate for the Euros – it’s a tough time for a player and his career.”

On whether Zouma’s injury may lead to John Terry being offered a new contract
“I don’t know, that’s something to be answered by the board and the directors of the club. The door is open, so we will see what will happen with this.”

On Chelsea’s defensive options
“I have a kid from the academy, Jake Clarke-Salter, who is now with us. We’ll see what will happen but we can also make some variations, with [Branislav] Ivanovic, with Baba [Rahman], Azpiliceuta – we have some options.”

On Matt Miazga’s chances of playing in next weekend’s FA Cup tie with Manchester City
“Physically he’s okay, but we’ll see what will happen next week. It’s too early to judge about that.

“He’s a youngster, although coming into the USA national team, which is not a small team. But he has to get used to our way of playing – it’s a little bit faster, but he adapts himself rather quick.

“He’s a very open guy, a good guy, very professional. So we don’t have any doubts if he is needed.”

On whether next week’s Champions League game may influence selection against Newcastle
“We take this game very seriously. We want to head up the table and we take Newcastle very seriously.

“We have to bear in mind that next week we have a suspension for Matic so we might have some little options to change, but not much. We will see after this game what will be coming up for Tuesday.”

On reports linking Loic Remy and Radamel Falcao with moves to China
“I think the squad that we have now will stay until the end of the season. We must be very careful.

“We’d love to have double-covered positions and you never know what will happen in the near future [with injuries]. So I don’t see many changes at this moment.

“He [Falcao] is training. But he’s not in the Champions League list. We’ll see what will happen. First for them, it’s important after several setbacks to get fit.”

On whether speculation over Chelsea’s new manager affects the players
“I don’t think so. I see the players very focused on what they have to do and I don’t hear any sounds within the squad about next season.”

On Leicester City and watching an open Premier League title race from afar
“The way it’s open now – and I think it will be even more open in the upcoming seasons – that’s what I like very much. That’s very good for football, that’s what we like to see.

“When you live somewhere then you sometimes underestimate the impact of [that country’s] football not just in this country but worldwide as well. And it’s an impact which is huge. So it’s good when teams now and in the near future are very competitive.”

On whether Alexandre Pato might feature
“Not this weekend. He’s now at the end of the second week of his pre-season. He’s doing well. Both Matt Miazga and Pato are training with us and doing an extra programme. The programme is made with a focus that around next weekend we will see how his fitness is, but not now.

“He is progressing. He came off holiday and of course you can see the difference between the players who are in daily training and a player who comes off holiday. But now, after 10 days, he’s progressing and we’ll see how he will go into the next tough programme, which we’ve planned for next week.

“The skill is something nature gives. You can of course improve that. But the level of fitness and the frequent actions of speed, for instance, that needs training sessions.”

On the debate around ticket prices
“I’ve heard and read several statements of several colleagues of mine, which are very sensible and with a lot of common sense. I think, first of all, football has changed a lot regarding organisation, regarding TV rights, regarding sponsors etc.

“It’s a very interesting world for, let’s say, broadcasters and sponsors but we must not forget that it’s always about the players, who like to perform, and equally important the public, the man in the street who likes to see high-level football.

“I was happy to read that my colleagues have almost the similar point of view that the public is the most important thing. When sometimes you see a TV broadcast of a game and the stands are half-full that’s awful to see. The public is so important. We must do everything to facilitate the people in the stands.”

On Newcastle and the challenge of remaining unbeaten
“The status of being unbeaten as Chelsea manager sounds good but, realistically, we would have wished to have had more victories, especially at home.

“Now we have the next opportunity to do so against Newcastle, who I think improved their squad with substance. They made some good signings and they I think are more competitive than they were.”

On whether Chelsea players were mentally scarred by poor results
“When I came in December, it was a very uncertain situation within Chelsea [and] within the team as well.

“When you don’t win frequently, then it sneaks in a bit of insecurity into the team and that’s what we had to settle first. We did it with an unbeaten run of games. Now we’d love to make the next step, into victories.”

On Eden Hazard
“[There is] nothing missing, but he’s coming out of a double injury. We made a special programme for him to get him fitter and fitter, so he’s now able to go into longer periods of games.”