TO RUSSIA WITH LOVE
Roman Abramovich joins the Chelsea knees-up
DELIGHTED FA Cup winner Guus Hiddink plonked the famous trophy on his head and then told his Chelsea stars: "This is the perfect way to say goodbye."
The stand-in Stamford Bridge boss returns to coaching Russia full-time today after watching his Blues beat Everton 2-1 in 100-degree Wembley heat.
Click here for all the FA Cup Final pictures from Chelsea 2, Everton 1
Click here for pictures of Guus Hiddink's and Roman Abramovich's amazing dressing room party
And the Dutchman drooled: "This is very emotional, but I'm glad. It is better to say goodbye with the cup than without it."
Owner Roman Abramovich and Chelsea's triumphant stars joined in a euphoric farewell to Hiddink.
There were no tears after the Dutchman's final game in charge, just a grateful outpouring for the man who salvaged Chelsea's season.
They partied for an hour in the dressing room before Hiddink took his players to one side for a quiet word of thanks for the efforts which saw John Terry lift the FA Cup for the second time in three years.
When he finally emerged, an emotional Hiddink said: "It was extraordinary in the dressing room. We had a party.
"We have a multi-cultural squad with players from South America to Europe to Africa and we all had a beautiful dance party, there were a lot of people in there and everybody was participating. Abramovich danced with us as well, he enjoyed it - he was in the middle.
"My old body was moving and dancing in the African way. I thought I was dancing rather well. But, as a white man, you think you are dancing well but it is not true, it is in your imagination!
"Yes, there was a little bit of sadness. I spoke for about five minutes and I must say in a rather emotional way.
"I wanted to show my appreciation for the way we had worked together and to congratulate them on what we achieved."
Chelsea's elation was tempered by a bitter lament from Everton boss David Moyes. He said: "I thought it was important for me, the Premier League and the League Managers' Association to win it because it's very hard to win anything in this country.
"But he has come in and won a trophy in 3½ months and I didn't want him to take a trophy so quickly. That's why I wanted to beat Guus Hiddink.
"In the end, though, I have to congratulate him because Chelsea were the better team and worthy winners."
Yet nothing could detract from the impact Hiddink has made. He rescued a season that was in its death throes and ended with the first Chelsea silverware since Jose Mourinho's departure.
"It is perfect," he beamed. "If we had not won, we would have regretted it because we would have been left empty-handed.
"We were very demanding and very direct and it would have been a big pity if we had not won this beautiful cup.
"This ranks very highly in my achievements. The FA Cup is known worldwide and when I was young manager and even a little boy, there was always one Saturday that could not be touched.
"For me, it is recognition for what we have done this season.
"As a young manager, you dream of winning the Champions League and the league in your country. But the FA Cup is special and something that you watch on the telly and think if I could win that, it would be great. That has happened."
Match-winner Frank Lampard paid his own tribute to Hiddink. He said: "He came straight in and changed a few things but kept it all very simple and that was a stroke of managerial genius.
"It's hard to come to terms with the fact he's going but from the very start it was said he was only here to the end of the season.
"Of course, he's going to be a hard act to follow but I'm sure a club of this stature and resources will get the right sort of manager with the required credentials to take this club forward."
It could have been a completely different story after Louis Saha struck the fastest goal in FA Cup final history, scoring after 25 seconds.
Hiddink, who now returns to managing the Russian national team, admitted: "I didn't actually see it, I hadn't even sat down and there were television people and security standing up in front of me.
"But I don't have to see it to know it was bad. Once again we came back and scored two beautiful goals to claim some silverware. That's what you must do here. This club must win silverware every year."
Hiddink, 62, hailed Ashley Cole and Florent Malouda but his last words were for Lampard.
He said: "Frank is tremendous and that goal was typical of him. He's always there at the key moments and that's why he is one of the best players in the world."
Lampard said: "There were huge celebrations at the end because it's been rather frustrating for us over the last couple of seasons.
"We've come close in the Champions League but to get our hands on the FA Cup at the end of this season was really special and that showed in the way we all celebrated.
"On the night before the game we paid our respects to the manager by giving him a couple of gifts as a thank you. He's been a special person."
Cole became the first player since 1891 to claim FIVE FA Cup winner's medals. He said: "It feels amazing. In the first two minutes I did not think it was going to happen but I have now won it five times and I am just happy for all the players and, of course, the manager.
"I don't think Guus Hiddink will be forgotten quickly - all the lads loved him. We are so happy and proud that he can leave with the FA Cup."
This article has 31 comments
To Steve Davis, I don't know what Chelsea have achieved over the last 40 years if you take away the Roman Abramovich era. You will find it is very little, so it's hard to understand what you mean when you say that everyone appreciates what they have achieved. Maybe people in Belgium are easily appreciative, because 1 league title pre-abramovich hardly constitutes any sort of history at all. People in Belgium must also appreciate when Chelsea used to yo-yo between the first and second divisions twenty-odd years ago.
By Jamie Jubon. Posted June 4 2009 at 6:48 PM.
Yeah Chelsea, c'mon u blues, were gona win the treble next season with ancelotti c'mon u blues !"!!!
By Sarub Kalsi. Posted June 2 2009 at 6:51 PM.
congrat (Guss) and entire member of the staffs and more hails to the players cudos to them all.most of all Roman a good motivator cudos to him,cudos to all chelsea fans one love. Blues 4ever.
By henry. Posted June 2 2009 at 11:21 AM.
CHELSEA are fantastic since the arrival of guus,.the likes of malouda have really improved.GOOD WORK
By james. Posted June 1 2009 at 4:09 PM.
Fantastic win for Chelsea. Classic Lampard to score the winner like that. Florent Malouda deserves to stay next season with the amount of work he put in. He has really transformed as a winger under Hiddink and I hope he can reproduce performances like this next season!
By Scott. Posted June 1 2009 at 9:58 AM.
I Love Chelsea o so much, and whether Man Untd played with there second team in the semi final or not i still think we deserved to win one trophy atleast.. we had a real up hill battle when scolari was at the helm at the start of the season & back then no one could imagine us atleast winning something !!
Well done to the boys, You came out all guns Blazing !!!!
By Selwyn Crotz. Posted June 1 2009 at 7:50 AM.
I think that football fans are cementing there reputation of being stupid every day. Barca were robbed of the first leg; chelsea could easily have ended with nine men, and Barca should have had at least one penalty. Against 10/9 men, barca would've run riot. Chelsea were unfortunate in the second leg, but barca still had a man off because Anelka trip over himself.
Barca were much, much MUCH better than chelsea over the two legs. The first leg was embarrassing to watch, as was seeing Chelsea, with a team of great players, playing defensively against 10 man barca at home.
By fsdf. Posted June 1 2009 at 5:01 AM.
Congratulations to Chelsea FC! Guus Hiidink is a great coach, sad he would'nt be there for us next season, no doubt about it he (Guss) ia a master!
Herevived the season for all of Chelsea's fans...............but for Ovbredo the story would have been sweeter! Thanks so very Guus for still making the season sweet!
By Abiagom Victor. Posted June 1 2009 at 4:17 AM.
good Job Chelsea FC. Consolation price for been screwed by the Referee at the CL semi-final. Could have been Barca (actually beat Barca). We will be back next, and then we won't fear anyone, anymore.
By KOLA. Posted June 1 2009 at 4:06 AM.
All I can Say is WOW thank God. At least half bread is better than none, and I hope Chelsea will come out next season and learn their lesson to stay focus on because the top 4 in BPL plays a lot of games. That been said, I hope FIFA will open up and discipline their own officials that throw games away. Considering the effort put in the whole season. Thanx to N.O.T.W
By Dums. Posted June 1 2009 at 1:19 AM.
Dear,oppo,De said wha goss around cs,ar,cealesy for lifeòó6ö
By Mattcida. Posted May 31 2009 at 11:31 PM.
Clelsea should buy at least two VERY GOOD stikers for the next season, then they would be able to win European cup.
By M Y ALI. Posted May 31 2009 at 10:02 PM.
Chelsea FC deserve a trophy indeed dis just concluded season. 10x 2 Guus 4 turning things arod @ stamford bridge. We wil 4eva remember yo. Blues 4 life.
By Dionne Sappor. Posted May 31 2009 at 8:48 PM.
I think Chelsea deserve more than FA cup, they are the best term in the world. Guus is a classic manager.
By donbassy. Posted May 31 2009 at 6:55 PM.
CHELSEA FA CUP WINNERS!!!
By J. Posted May 31 2009 at 5:43 PM.
CHELSEA AND GUUS THE GREATEST TEAM IN THE WORLD. BARCA COULD NOT BEAT US IN A FAIR MATCH.
By Barry. Posted May 31 2009 at 5:01 PM.
As a Liverpool fan, i have hated Chelsea.. but this man Hiddink has made me have a soft spot for Chelsea and i have become a fan of hiddink . Roman was fantastic too coming in and partying with the team lol
I can bet my entire life that Jose Mourinho is burning like wildfire
By Sidneyxda. Posted May 31 2009 at 2:51 PM.
thank gus .what did liverpool win this season ?
By charlie paul cook. Posted May 31 2009 at 2:03 PM.
Chelsea boring?
What about MU in Cl finale when they looked like school boys
against Barcelona and what about Chelsea in second leg of semi final showed Barcelona did not deserved to be in finale - they were not good enough for Chelsea!
Stop count Chelsea's money and start count MU and Liverpool's money but learn little MATH
By michael. Posted May 31 2009 at 1:29 PM.
Chelsea were and is the best inform team since Guss Hiddick arrive. Thanks Guus for a good ending of the season. Chelsea players and fans will surely miss you.
By Allan Russell. Posted May 31 2009 at 1:28 PM.
My Dad took me to Stamford bridge for the first time at the age of 6, I am 51 now. To all the negative critics who mostly spill critism for the sake of it , one message : We won it , and deserved it,thats it ! All the rest what is thought is a load of...
Living in Belgium for the past 30 years , I can tell you that CFC is thought of very high , and people appreciate what CFC have achieved during the past 40 years, not only the past 10 years.
By Steve DAVIS. Posted May 31 2009 at 11:00 AM.
is it not against the law to smoke in doors ? next he will claim for two houses
By graham riley. Posted May 31 2009 at 10:11 AM.
im a lifelong chelsea fan,season ticket every year and i have to be honest we need to change allot of things if we r ever gona win the champs leugue,we are poor compared to united liverpool and barcelona,even stoke are more entertaining then us
By alasatra. Posted May 31 2009 at 9:15 AM.
Chelsea won. If Man U had not been so terrible in the European Cup final they might have come close to winning that. To say that Chelsea was boring doesn't even come close to describing how appalling Man U were. I think that Ferguson said that the new pitch for our showcase matches was rubbish. So stop moaning about Chelsea were boring when United are even more so. They played a good team - Everton - and they did what they needed to win.
By Ken. Posted May 31 2009 at 7:11 AM.
Chris i think that should say "smiling", Jack the lad your an idiot.
Well done Chels great performance against a team that i think will do very well next year.
By Andy. Posted May 31 2009 at 5:52 AM.
Sorry Romeo, run that one by me again?
By Chris Muscatelli. Posted May 31 2009 at 5:22 AM.
Yep Chelsea win.... Too bad they are BORING, CLASSLESS, and complete UNDERACHIEVERS. £500m for an FA Cup that they didn't face a prem team until the semis. What a waste of roubles!
By jack the lad. Posted May 31 2009 at 2:18 AM.
This is the prize teams pay for playing long balls all season. Barca's demolishing of manure should have been a tactical lesson that long balls and non-sensical running will not win you trophies. Everton scored first and started hitting long balls and defending. Good on you Chelsea.
By kofinho. Posted May 31 2009 at 1:44 AM.
Did anyone see the video of Hiddink smoking a cigar in the dressing room at wembley. Absolute p*ss take that supporters can't smoke anywhere in the stadiums now (even open air stands) but the manager of Chelski can smoke in a room underneath the stands. I want justice or all smokers should light up in unison on the first day of the new season see what happens then.
By £80 FINE FOR HIDDINK. Posted May 31 2009 at 12:36 AM.
great game which saw 3 great goals, everton go down in history with their fastest ever goal at the new wembley and guss gets to go home with an fa cup winners medal.
made me laugh all them scousers before the game saying how they was gonna nick it 1-0 lmao, no wins for moyes or everton in over 20 games against chelsea this was never gonna be any different, as if they could keep therampaging drogz and lampz at bay.
By Will. Posted May 30 2009 at 11:45 PM.
I'm Smelling With You For FA Cup
By Romeo. Posted May 30 2009 at 10:51 PM.