Chelsea transfer news: Guus Hiddink tells Aston Villa manager Remi Garde to 'respect' Blues after Loic Remy interest

'I will see if we can recover them as fast as possible, at least one'

Jack Pitt-Brooke
Wednesday 30 December 2015 23:30 GMT
Comments
Loïc Rémy (left) and Radamel Falcao (centre) in training for Chelsea
Loïc Rémy (left) and Radamel Falcao (centre) in training for Chelsea (Rex Features)

Your support helps us to tell the story

From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.

At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.

The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.

Your support makes all the difference.

Guus Hiddink wants “the most powerful squad possible”, but Chelsea’s interim manager is facing questions over the future and fitness of his two back-up strikers, Loïc Rémy and Radamel Falcao, who is back to “square one” after another thigh injury.

Hiddink had to play Eden Hazard up front against Manchester United at Old Trafford on Monday because Chelsea’s first-choice centre-forward, Diego Costa, was suspended. Both Rémy and Falcao, who have scored one Premier League goal each this season, were out and are unlikely to make Sunday’s trip to Crystal Palace.

“I hope they recover very fast to be available,” Hiddink said at his press conference. “We need a double occupation for all the positions and we didn’t have that [on 28 December]. I will see if we can recover them as fast as possible, at least one.”

Rémy has a calf problem, which leaves him “doubtful” for 2 January. The French striker is a target for Aston Villa next month, with their manager, Rémi Garde, admitting that Rémy was one of the players he is hoping to sign when the transfer window reopens this weekend.

Hiddink warned his Villa counterpart not to talk about Chelsea players in public and said that Rémy must prove his fitness at Chelsea before his future can even be discussed.

“From our point of view, I don’t think we, or the management, will go into a similar situation [of public discussion],” Hiddink said. “You have to respect where the players are.

“If you are interested, talk first to the people to whom they are contracted. You cannot go into details. But the player has signed a contract here and must be fit for us. He’s having a difficult time regarding his injuries.

“He has to prove first of all that he’s a good Chelsea player. He has a calf problem for several days.”

Falcao will be out for longer than Rémy, with Hiddink admitting that the Colombia striker was “back to square one” after picking up another thigh injury.

The former Atletico Madrid forward has not appeared for Chelsea for two months – and another setback means he will not figure for a while longer. “We had him in a game and he had that injury again that he had before, to the inside of his thigh,” Hiddink said. “I think he is back to square one. He is in treatment at the moment, he cannot appear on the pitch.

“He was out, and our medical staff tried to build him up and he had a setback, which is not always a positive signal. We hope within 10 days he might be fit again, but not to play.”

Falcao’s loan spell at Chelsea has been so unsuccessful that it could be terminated and the player sent back to Monaco, if the clubs and player agreed to it.

Hiddink, however, refused to be drawn on the 29-year-old’s future. “There’s been no contact at this moment,” he said. “I don’t want to go there. We have an open period from the first to the last day of the January window. It’s not good to talk in advance in this case. You don’t go through the side door.”

Join our commenting forum

Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies

Comments

Thank you for registering

Please refresh the page or navigate to another page on the site to be automatically logged inPlease refresh your browser to be logged in