Guus Hiddink has confessed that Chelsea's failure to qualify for Europe next season is a "disaster", as they gear up for Wednesday's clash with Liverpool.
The Dutchman took over the Blues from Jose Mourinho in December after a torrid start to the season left the then-English champions in a shock relegation battle.
Hiddink proceeded to steady the ship and steer his side to safety, with the club now on course for a mid-table finish to their season.
But, nevertheless, the 69-year-old still considers Chelsea's season to be a failure in a campaign that the outfit failed to challenge for silverware.
"Yeah, it would be a disaster. Of course, when I talk about big words like disaster, I think of bigger things in the world," the 69-year-old told reporters at a press conference.
“When we zoom into the football world, you may call it a disaster. Chelsea must be always in the top, as they are used to. Even better, fighting for silverware.
“I was asked to get out of relegation zone, with no other targets. I talked in a positive way when unexpected things happened before. You re-set your goals, as a team, which we did.
“I would have liked to set another target for the club - win the FA Cup, reach the Champions League finals - but that did not happen."
Hiddink is set to vacate the Stamford Bridge dugout for incoming manager Antonio Conte, but the former has stated that he will leave his successor to make his own judgements on the squad he has on hand.
"I want to be fair to the players, I’m not going to give judgement. I have to work with them now," he added. “They [Conte's staff] are clever enough to make their own judgement.
“I didn’t want information [on the players when he took over] in December - everyone has a coloured view, right or wrong. However, you eventually make your judgement.”
Hiddink will be out of job once Chelsea's campaign is over, but the trainer revealed that he will not call time on his career and could even continue working in England.
“I will be involved [at a new club] but not in the limelight. Helping clubs, players - what we can improve," he concluded. “This week, for instance, we had a small encounter with a company following the development of young players.
“In Holland, I am an adviser with such people on the technical part of the game. We like it very much, it’s a modern approach. I'd like to do those things - here or elsewhere.”
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- Goal