Hiddink on Hazard, Miazga, Baba, Ibrahimovic, Pato’s fitness and Mikel’s ‘freedom’ comment

Guus Hiddink was asked about a number of issues ahead of this weekend’s FA Cup game against Manchester City. Here’s a round-up of what the Chelsea boss had to say at Friday’s news conference.

On John Terry
“He will not be fit for this weekend. He worked with the physios [and] yesterday he was trying a bit on the pitch, but still too many problems to be fit for the weekend. I think we have to be a bit cautious with him as well. I hope next weekend he will be available.

“Of course it’s a disappointment, because he’s the leader of this club and this team but on the other hand I am not going to complain. In Paris, they had a decent performance our central defenders [Branislav Ivanovic and Gary Cahill].”

On Matt Miazga
“He is close. He is fit. We are doing some tests and we’ll get results but I think he will be fit. What the weekend will bring, it’s too early at this moment.”

On Eden Hazard
“He was in a difficult situation but he has to step up, he knows that. We have our talks with him every now and then, small conversations [on] how to step up to the next level. That’s what his wish is. I hope that he will step up as soon as possible.

“Sometimes he shows what he is able to do. I remember once he had a sprint on our right-hand side – that’s the old Hazard and we hope to see that more frequently. He’s aware of that, now it’s up to him to step up.”

On Hazard’s future
“Every now and then I have very short conversations with him, asking about the situation. He is very keen to be here, he has extended his contract, his family’s happy here. There was no sign from his side to say ‘no, I’m eager to go’.

“We will encourage him and talk to him about performance as we do with all the players. Then it’s up to him. I don’t want to focus too much on that [his future]. All the world is just focusing on him. We have more players who must bring, and can bring, the effort.”

On John Mikel Obi saying Hiddink has allowed the team more freedom
“A lot of people misunderstand ‘freedom’. When you think of ‘freedom’ [you think] ‘I can do anything I like, I can go anywhere, I can do what I will’.

“It’s more the feeling that, in every position, you have the feeling of responsibility. Everyone has to take his responsibility to do the job he’s been asked.

“We prepare the team at training, we prepare the team in the team meetings, and then the execution is theirs, with a lot of responsibility. Big players have to step up in big games.”

On City boss Manuel Pellegrini resting some players
“We have a serious approach to the FA Cup. My well-respected colleague [Pellegrini] might also have a lot of interest in the FA Cup, so let’s see what happens on Sunday. We’ll take ourselves and them very seriously.

“If one, two or three young players are put in the squad, I bet they go for 120% of effort, so it’s not always a favour. [It’s] the same here. We have youngsters for instance like Bertrand Traore – he’s so ambitious, he’s training well, he’s learning every week.”

On whether the FA Cup should be a midweek competition without replays
“I’m in favour of that [midweek games] and having the weekends for the Premier League. Until you go to the final stages of the FA Cup, semi-finals and final – then the whole world likes to see it, because of its importance, on the weekends.

“Scrap replays? We have a very tight schedule for all the big clubs playing in Europe. On the other hand, I think for smaller clubs it’s a big adventure to have the opportunity, when they make a good result, to have a second leg.

“We should not just think of the big ones – of course, try to get a good schedule in the Premier League but also not forget the clubs that love to play against the big clubs as well. The FA Cup is a charming tournament.”

On Baba Rahman
“He is a gifted player, he’s a technical player. He’s good going forward – he is very calm when he is playing on the ball. He has to focus also on his backtracking when he has to defend. He is focusing on making an improvement in that area, which is important for this very competitive league.”

On Zlatan Ibrahimovic apparently wanting a move to the Premier League
“He is a star player already for many years. He is putting his effort in with a big club, which I think Paris St-Germain has grown to. It’s up to a club to sign him.”

On Manchester City’s dip in form
“They were a bit unlucky in the last games [against Leicester and Tottenham] but a big team always reacts. A big team cannot afford, or doesn’t want, an array of defeats. They don’t allow that. So we are warned.”

On winning the FA Cup in 2009
“It’s something from the past but it’s an achievement for the club and everyone involved, including me. Winning the FA Cup is a prestigious prize in England but also worldwide. It’s a worldwide-recognised big prize.”

On Alexandre Pato
“He’s now at the stage of two-and-a-half to three weeks of pre-season and we’ll see what will happen. He’s getting fitter and fitter and we’ll see what the results are of the tests that we did today.”

On whether he might want to stay at Chelsea beyond this season
“What we agreed, we stick to that.”

On the 5-1 win over Newcastle
“We had a good result last week and the way we played was encouraging. I like to see the team going forward as much as possible. This is a little bit different against a big team, and the balance hopefully goes to us.”

On what winning the FA Cup would mean to him
“It’s always a bonus if you get a cup – I’m not talking about the financial part of it, but to win something that’s forever remarkable.

“But I am not thinking just of myself, I love to work with my team. I rarely talk about myself. When we achieve something it’s a team achievement, not just the players who are playing but also my technical team.

“Of course I am ultimately responsible and I take the ultimate decisions, but for me it’s always teamwork. It would be beautiful for everyone.”