Good afternoon and welcome to today's live blog as Guus Hiddink speaks to the media ahead of Chelsea’s trip to Bournemouth on Saturday.

The Blues will be looking to bounce back from their 3-0 defeat at the hands of Manchester City last weekend and could be boosted by the return of skipper John Terry after injury.

Just three points separate Chelsea and Bournemouth in the Premier League table, an incredible stat considering there are just four games left to play for most teams.

Join us as Hiddink braces himself for questions on Antonio Conte, John Stones and more.

That's all folks..

Thanks for tuning in for our live coverage of Guus Hiddink’s press conference.

Here are the key points as the Blues try to end their losing streak at Bournemouth tomorrow.

  • Eden Hazard will return to the team
  • John Terry remains unavailable but will still travel
  • Terry eyeing up manager experience
  • Guus is wary of Eddie Howe’s remarkable achievements
  • Chelsea recruitment network will determine future success
Interim manager Guus Hiddink of Chelsea talks to the media
(Image: Clive Rose/Getty Images)
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Tammy Abraham earmarked for Chelsea progression

Chelsea take on Man City in the FA Youth Cup final tonight.

But who has caught the eye of Hiddink?

Well, goal-machine Tammy Abraham seems to have impressed him.

Hiddink: “They were already training here, as many times as possible in training.

“Tammy Abraham, for instance, he has outgrown as has Traore - not going out on loan, but having training experiences with us - he has grown to a very good level.

“Tammy is also a boy who must do that as soon as possible.

“Having won the title, I said let them come to our training. I like them as much as possible.”

Tammy Abraham celebrates after scoring the second goal for Chelsea
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Will Pato remain at Chelsea next season?

I have to make my fair judgement to this. We give them their opportunity although not in long term games. There is not much time and space to prove yourself, but also training session - very competitive, you can show yourself.

In January we had a big problem just having Diego Costa, Loic Remy was a long time injured, so was Falcao, and Traore was not at the level yet. He did very well, made some goals.

But at that time we brought Pato in on loan, he played one and a half games, and in training I see him.

We make the judgement fairly to give players time to play, but there is competition. We will see with the next management if they are a part of the plans.

Debut goal: Alexandre Pato scores from the spot after winning the penalty
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Chelsea youngsters not ready for big stage

Chelsea transfer guru Michael Emenalo has been dispelling the myth of Tottenham’s success with nurturing young talent.

Emenalo says Harry Kane is the only player they have truly developed. What does Hiddink think?

Guus said: “It’s difficult to judge who is coming through between 12-16 in Tottenham. I think Kane was one of them and the rest were bought - that’s what you told me.

“We talk about our own situation, not others. We have an academy of course, and with the demands, they are very high in the first team level. It’s a hard step. It also means that recruitment that makes very high standard. That’s not easy.

“We are a bit lacking, that they are ready to come into the first team within a year, if we are honest.”

Harry Kane Tottenham Hotspur
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Chelsea will struggle to re-establish Stamford Bridge fear factor

He said: “Next season, with all the money clubs have, it will be more difficult for established clubs over the years. You must be very aware that the opposition will grow as well.

“But I don’t agree with what you refer to. When the results are not good during a season, of course you are in a different mood. From December until we were knocked out of FA Cup and Champions League there was something at stake.

“Now there is nothing, except pride, which I remind them of, then automatically there is a little less of a spark, what is needed to perform at the top.

“But we do what we do - the players still go into the last games with lot of pride.”

General view of Stamford Bridge
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Recruitment is key for the Blues

Chelsea will go through a rebuilding process over the summer as Italy manager Antonio Conte takes his place at the Stamford Bridge helm.

Many have disappointed this season, and there is an overhaul expected in the following months.

But, Hiddink says, the secret is to good recruitment, not blindly splashing the cash.

He said: “It’s not just big money you need to spend for good players. Good recruitment gets players for around 1m or less. In the past, at other clubs, we managed to get players for around $700k from South America and after a few years they were worth $20m.

“We recruited him and he was around 1m but you need to recruit at an early stage and view. Sometimes I think when you look very well and do good recruitment, not saying it isn’t done here, it can be found in the Championship.

“For instance, West Ham have some good players, of course the demand of a big club is high. It’s not dead easy. But every now and then you can find a white horse.”

Chelsea Manager Guus Hiddink
(Image: Jordan Mansfield/Getty Images)
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Eddie Howe shows English managers can cut it, says Guus

Eddie Howe’s Bournemouth took the Championship by storm last season to win promotion and the highly-rated young English manager is proving he can make his mark in the top flight.

His low budget side are have barely flirted with relegation this season, and the Cherries are high-flying in 13th when many tipped them to immediately return to the second tier.

And the Chelsea boss insists his counterpart has been a great advert for young English managers.

Hiddink said: “To keep them in the Championship is very difficult. There is not much to say about them, which is a very good sign, they were mostly out of the danger zone. He is an example of English manager as to how well they can do.

“Giving chances to English managers - this is a beautiful example as to how you manage it.” It’s a fairytale story for them, when I said before they were strong, it shows good management, good transfer policy and hopefully the second year, though more difficult, how they manage that.

“But so far, when you are coming up from bottom to the Premier League - very respectful.

“I remember the last game, it was an offside goal now you mention it. I didn’t want to bring it up. It balances out - Terry’s equaliser against Everton levelled it.”

Eddie Howe
(Image: Michael Steele/Getty Images)
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Eden Hazard WILL return at Bournemouth

Last season’s Premier League player of the season Eden Hazard has endured a shocking drop in form since Chelsea won the league last season.

Yet to score a Premier League goal this season, the Belgian winger has been out of form and suffered bouts of injury.

But he is set to return from his latest setback this weekend, according to Hiddink.

He said: “Hazard is available again, he will travel.

“If not for the whole game, I think, he is available to play.

“This week he was training in physically without any complaints, which is also good - that makes him very alive.”

Eden Hazard of Chelsea warms up
(Image: Mike Hewitt/Getty Images)
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How will Chelsea bounce back from defeat?

Chelsea were unbeaten from when Guus Hiddink’s took over in December until they lost at Swansea in April.

The Blues followed up defeat with a 0-3 crushing at Stamford Bridge to Manchester City.

But the Chelsea interim boss insists the Blues will fight for pride until season’s end.

He added: “The emptiness was two days after defeat. I regained the energy to go on of course, but losses when we hoped to be on top.

“Then of course we are not in the middle of focus. I try to face facts, usually a press conference would be more filled because there is something at stake - but there is nothing at stake for Chelsea. Chelsea will remain strong and play to win.”

Jesus Navas of Manchester City in action with Baba Rahman
(Image: Paul Gilham/Getty Images)
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John Terry shadowing Guus to prepare for potential managerial move

John Terry’s short term future remains up in the air as the devoted Chelsea servant’s contract is set to expire in the summer.

Rumours persist that the Blues will not renew his deal, leaving Terry to ponder his options.

But, Hiddink said, he is keen to experience the managerial side of life.

He added: “I don’t allow anyone in my shadow, but of course I’m kidding. That’s a long way to go - but it’s always good when players, in my previous experience, that if you get in the players interested highly in football and not just playing, but also broader, it’s good to have them have the view from the management side.

“That’s nice. All the players are getting interested, it’s good to have them close. But first of all he’s considered as a player. Kind of like work experience.”

Importance for JT playing? “It might be important as well, but it’s not a stress situation. Regarding next season, I’m talking a personal title.”

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Terry injury treatment remains orthodox

John Terry took to Instagram this week to vent about his ongoing achilles injury.

Terry is undergoing platelet-rich plasma therapy in an effort to recover from the problem which has kept him sidelines throughout March and April.

The controversial treatment was banned by the World Anti-doping Agency (WADA) until 2011 and it utilises platelets from the athlete’s own blood which is then injected into the damaged tissue.

The Blues skipper has missed both legs of the Champions League tie with PSG but is hoping to return at some point in the next two weeks.

Hiddink said: “He has his treatments here and he has them separately. I hope he will step up next week and maybe step up in the next few games.”

John Terry of Chelsea
(Image: Clive Mason/Getty Images)
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John Terry remains OUT

The Chelsea captain has been out of action with injury after suffering a frustrating 2016.

The skipper recently made his 700th appearance for the Blues as the one-club man had helped pick the Blues up from an early season slump.

And Dutchman Guus Hiddink reveals he will travel tomorrow, despite not being fit.

He said: “The team news for the injured players, Kurt Zouma working very hard - i like his spirit, he tries to come back asap but of course not this season. He is a tough and encouraging guy.

“Remy is out, and Terry is not still available to play. He will travel with the team this afternoon to Bournemouth. He is not yet able to step in. He is travelling because I like people to be involved.

“He is very committed, annoyed about his injury but now recovering. I like to have him and he desperately wants to be with the team.”

701 man: Chelsea skipper John Terry leads his side out after his 700th appearance last weekend
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And we're liiiiiive

Guus Hiddink is here, and raring to go!

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Zouma on the comeback trail

Kurt Zouma is on the comeback trail.

Here’s a look at him working his way back to fitness.

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Chelsea squad's Mourinho guilt

Honest Cesc Fabregas has admitted Jose Mourinho paid the price for putting too much trust in his Chelsea squad.

The Special One was given the boot in December after an alarming first half of the Premier League season which saw the Blues slip towards the relegation zone.

They lost a staggering nine out of 16 fixtures despite having cruised to the title the previous campaign under the guidance of the Portuguese.

Chelsea owner Roman Abramovich’s patience finally ran out in the lead up to Christmas and he pulled the trigger.

Fabregas admits the whole squad feel guilty for having played their part in Mourinho’s demise.

I have huge respect for him - we still keep in touch right now.

The biggest problem was he trusted us too much, gave us more holiday because we were champions and we let him down.

That was the main reason he had to go - and for that myself and the team feel bad for it.

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Big summer moves

The European football season is once again coming to a close with a few weeks until the curtain falls on another crazy campaign.

The Premier League is still to be decided with Leicester and Tottenham battling it out to secure maiden titles in the Premier League era.

In Spain, Barcelona’s recent slump has allowed both Madrid clubs to mount a charge with one point separating the top three.

PSG have already secured their fourth title in a row in France while Bayern Munich, under the departing Pep Guardiola, are set to do likewise.

In Italy, Antonio Conte’s former side Juventus have a six point gap with five games remaining and look like securing a fifth successive Serie A title.

Regardless of how Europe’s heavyweight sides have fared we can look forward to another summer of transfer activity.

Each club will look to recruit in order to either reinforce or re-establish their dominance on their domestic league as well as the Champions League.

But who is likely to be on the move this summer and where will they end up?

Let’s take a look at where a few of the biggest names in football could be heading.

(Image: Getty Images)
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Unfinished business for Lukaku

Chelsea’s hopes of re-signing Romelu Lukaku from Everton have been boosted after it was claimed he has “unfinished business” at Stamford Bridge.

Lukaku joined the Blues from Anderlecht in a deal worth £18million in the summer of 2011 and was touted as the next Didier Drogba.

However, the Belgian powerhouse only ever started one Premier League game for the club as he was sent out on two loan spells to English top-flight teams.

He impressed at West Bromwich Albion and then with the Toffees, with the Merseyside shelling out £28million to make the move permanent two years ago.

Lukaku has since netted 55 times for the Merseyside club in 88 appearances and caught the eye of Europe’s elite ahead of the re-opening of the transfer window.

He shocked Everton last month when he admitted: “For me, things are going well at Everton right now. I can become top scorer of the Premier League. But, yes, I could be leaving the club in the summer.”

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What next for Falcao?

Radamel Falcao insists he remains focused on rebuilding his reputation in Europe despite refusing to rule out a move to Major League Soccer.

The Chelsea misfit is approaching the end of a season-long loan spell from Monaco and has failed to make inroads at Stamford Bridge.

He has started just two games for the Blues as the troubles that plagued him at Manchester United last year have followed him to west London.

Two catastrophic seasons in England have left Falcao’s reputation in tatters and the Colombian’s days of tearing defences apart with Atletico Madrid are a distant memory.

However, he remains under contract at Monaco for two more years and will have plenty to ponder when he returns to the principality at the end of term.

I am not thinking about next season. When the season is finished I start to think about that.

We have four more games left. I would like to play more minutes. The experience [in England] has been a little bit tough.

I will still fight for an opportunity to play and I am waiting for that. These last couple of years have allowed me to be better in other ways. I am happy for that.

I think MLS could be bigger than now because they have everything they need to become an even stronger league and become even more competitive.

I never say no but in this moment I am thinking about Europe and my performances here. I think I have more years to fight in these leagues.

Radamel Falcao
(Image: Getty)
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Raiding the Italian market

Antonio Conte is looking to a market he knows well as he prepares to rebuild the Chelseasquad this summer.

The Italy head coach will take over at Stamford Bridge in the summer after leading his country into battle at the European Championships in France.

Chelsea’s billionaire owner Roman Abramovich realises investment is needed to restore the club to the summit of English football and will bankroll a spending spree.

Incoming boss Conte is already planning for life in west London and is drawing up a list of targets for the Blues to bid for when the transfer window re-opens.

He is keen to focus on the Italian market and sent scouts to yesterday’s Serie A match between Genoa and Roberto Mancini’s Inter to take a look at players.

Inter pair Ivan Perisic and Jeison Murillo were the main focus of the trip, according to Corriere dello Sport.

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Precious Stones

Chelsea will launch a fresh bid to sign John Stones when the summer transfer window re-opens as the club prepares to wave goodbye to John Terry.

Stones was former manager Jose Mourinho’s top transfer target last summer as Everton knocked back several approaches from the Special One for the defender.

Not even an offer of £37million was enough to tempt the Toffees to part with a player who had expressed an interest in speaking with Chelsea about a move.

Stones has been criticised for his performances this season as Roberto Martinez’s team have struggled to progress in the manner that many expected them to.

Martinez has come under fire for his management of the side and is facing the prospect of getting the boot if he fails to win the FA Cup next month.

However, Stones’ decline has not affected Chelsea’s faith in his ability and there will be competition for his signature this summer.

Watch: Roberto Martinez on John Stones

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Happy birthday Obi

Happy Birthday to John Obi Mikel who is 29 today. The midfielder, described as the ‘elegant enforcer’ in Chelsea Magazine, has established himself as a first-choice favourite under Hiddink.

Nemanja Matic on the other hand, an integral part of last season’s title-winning team, hasn’t played a single minute in the last four matches.

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Welcome folks!

Good afternoon and welcome to the live blog as Guus Hiddink speaks to the press ahead of Chelsea’s trip to Bournemouth on Saturday.

The interim boss is set to sit down with the media at 1.15pm to discuss the latest news from inside Cobham and Stamford Bridge.

The Blues will be looking to bounce back from their 3-0 defeat at the hands of Manchester City last weekend and could be boosted by the return of skipper John Terry after injury.

Just three points separate Chelsea and Bournemouth in the Premier League table, an incredible stat considering there are just four games left to play for most teams.

Join us for live coverage as Hiddink prepares for questions on Antonio Conte, John Stones, Eddie Howe and more.

Chelsea's Belgian midfielder Eden Hazard (R) holds off Bournemouth's English defender Steve Cook
(Image: GLYN KIRK/AFP/Getty Images)
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