Guus Hiddink: Chelsea's Reputation Has Not Been Damaged

The Chelsea boss is in conciliatory mood and hoping UEFA will be lenient...

Chelsea's interim manager, Guus Hiddink, hopes UEFA will consider the circumstances surrounding the London club's controversial exit from the Champions League this week before the governing body decides whether - or how - to punish the Blues. But the indications are Hiddink is whistling in the wind.

According to The Times, Hiddink - who has declined to fine Didier Drogba after the Ivorian striker verbally abused referee Tom Henning Ovrebo and yelled obscenities into a Sky Sports camera that was filming the incident live - denies that his club's image has been damaged by the behaviour of Drogba and other players at the end of the highly-charged 1-1 draw with Barcelona at Stamford Bridge.

Norwegian official Ovrebo has apparently received death threats for his handling of the game - and Hiddink, having watched TV replays of the several, possibly pivotal, penalty appeals that were rejected - remains convinced that the referee should have awarded Chelsea at least two spot-kicks.

“He has admitted making some mistakes, but that’s sport,” Hiddink said. “We don’t need to overreact about this again.”

The Dutchman, who has the consolation of an FA Cup final to show for his brief sojourn in English football, admitted that he will find it difficult to return to Russia at the end of this month.

“I have loved working at the club,” he said. “I have worked with a lot of joy.”

UEFA are due to decide next week whether to fine Drogba, Michael Ballack and Jose Bosingwa, while Chelsea as a club may face charges of failing to control their players.

“We must not concentrate more on what happened at the end than what we did in the game,” Hiddink said. “We put in a good performance at home. But, because of the reaction to elimination, there were some incidents which the people involved in those incidents — for instance, Didier — have apologised for the overreaction on television. We’ve spoken about it and he’s apologised for it. That was not good, but it came out of frustration in the way we were eliminated.”

Chelsea owner Roman Abramovich has told Hiddink he was proud of the team's performance against Barcelona, but Hiddink will still be leaving his Russian friend's club. “My situation is very clear,” he said. “In the end we part. That’s how it is. Let’s not be too dramatic. That’s life.”

Hiddink was in conciliatory mood on Friday regarding Ovrebo, saying, “I hope he’s having a rest wherever he is. I think we have to leave the man in peace.”