Can Guus Hiddink be Andre Villas-Boas' helper with Chelsea's senior stars?

Editor Dean Mears look at potential problems facing new Chelsea manager Andre Villas-Boas, and how Guus Hiddink could be his helper.

Chelsea are famous for the power it’s players hold within the club, and with a new manager just  six years older than the average of the squad, Andre Villas-Boas could become another manager sent packing by its dominant senior players.However, should Guus Hiddink arrive in a Director of Football role, he could prove a vital link between senior players and a manager who are separated by a matter of months.

The major senior players; JT, Frank Lampard, Didier Drogba, Ashley Cole, Florent Malouda and Nicolas Anelka, are all in their 30’s, with both Lampard and Drogba the same age as the incoming Portuguese manager. I know the players knew Villas-Boas from his time under Mourinho, but it’s a whole different ball game where you’re actually in charge of the players.

Under Scolari, Chelsea’s senior players exercised their power to maximum potential, the under popular Brazilian was axed, Scolari himself blamed three specific players; Petr Cech, Drogba and Michael Ballack. Ballack has since left the club but it still shows how power even these players are, there’s no doubt in my mind they were backed by JT, only as captain he kept a low profile with goings on.

Chelsea's senior players have basically run team affairs since Mourinho's departure.

JT hasn’t always sat back though, during Avram Grant’s reign as manager JT had to be separated from coach Henk Ten Carte after a training ground row exploded, all in front of the watching eyes of owner Roman Abramovich. Player won other management that time, Carte was removed before the end of the season, with Avram following him shortly after the Champions League final defeat to Manchester United. Not forgetting JT’s attempted takeover coup during last year’s World Cup in South Africa half way through the tournament with England.

Under Hiddink, Chelsea where a different team, no rumours of back stabbing or player revolts, the players seemed happy working with Hiddink. The former coach often comes back to the Cobham training ground to speak to his old friends and spend time at Chelsea with owner Abramovich. Perhaps if Hiddink was to return to the club on a permanent basis, he could bring back his happy lifestyle and make things slightly easier for a manager with little experience of being the top dog.

Hiddink is a close friend of Abramovich

Of course, Villas-Boas is helped by the fact that two senior players in Hilario and Paulo Ferreira are both Portuguese like the boss, and some of the senior players, especially Drogba might be making an exit from Chelsea. Boas also knows most of the Chelsea squad from his time at the Bridge, he knows what makes them happy, what makes them upset. He was probably one of the first people the players went to if they were unhappy under Jose.

Another good point for Villas-Boas’ is that Chelsea are in a period of transition, the old guard are being replaced by younger players like Mikel, Mceachran and Sturridge. The former power hold of senior players is soon to be broken up, the club was in desperate need to be run differently and perhaps Roman has seen this, only time will tell.

There’s a huge amount of pressure on such a young man’s shoulders, so if he could be helped by having Hiddink in the Director of Football role than that can only be a good thing for Chelsea and the future of the football club. It all depends on what reasons Hiddink is appointed (if he is appointed), is he appointed to aid Villas-Boas or is he simply a plan B, which could in fact be disastrous of Villas-Boas and for Abramovich himself.