Football
Liam Twomey, Chelsea correspondent 8y

Guus Hiddink foresees some type of role with Chelsea beyond this season

LONDON -- Guus Hiddink says he will remain involved in the decisions made at Chelsea even if he leaves Stamford Bridge as planned this summer.

The Dutchman returned for a second spell as interim manager in December with Chelsea hovering dangerously above the relegation zone, and he has since presided over a nine-match unbeaten run in all competitions.

Chelsea are yet to decide on a permanent successor to Jose Mourinho and though he has consistently ruled himself out of the running, last month Hiddink hinted that he could be tempted to change his mind.

But even if his second spell as manager ends in May, Hiddink says his close relationships with owner Roman Abramovich and other members of the Chelsea hierarchy mean he will still offer an opinion on key decisions -- though he remains adamant he will have no say in the appointment of the new manager.

"Without having a formal [job] you can still have a bond with whatever needs to be done in the club," the Dutchman insisted. "It's not like I quit the club, say goodbye and don't see them anymore. We'll see what can be done.

"That was one of the main reasons I came back -- I knew the people in-house so it wasn't a new situation for me. There's contact and I don't see a reason to stop the contact after the last game."

Asked if he will help decide Chelsea's next manager, Hiddink replied: "No. They are wise enough to decide."

In the meantime,  Hiddink is focused on combining improved results with laying the groundwork for Chelsea's future, and he says he wants to continue to give talented youngsters Ruben Loftus-Cheek, Kenedy and Bertrand Traore chances to establish themselves.

"The demands [of the Premier League] are very high," he said. "We have some players knocking on the door and every now and then they play, but they have also experienced the difficulty of making the next step. I hope and I think the club will give more and more chances [to young players] but it is also to do with the demands of the league. It's a very tricky base.

"Traore is doing well and impressing in training, but when is the moment you bring them? I tend to do it but we like to win also with security. You can never give this guarantee.

"It's difficult to go to fourth position [this season] so normally when we're a little bit ahead -- without making any promises to anyone inside or outside -- there might be opportunities for them."

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