Guus
Hiddink hopes Chelsea reach a swift resolution to their managerial search
with Antonio Conte a strong favourite to take over from the Dutchman this
summer.
Representatives for the Italy coach are reported to be close to an agreement
with the Premier League club for Conte to become manager when his contract
with the national federation comes to an end after Euro 2016.
Sky in Italy reported on Thursday that Conte was close to signing a
three-year deal to take over as Jose Mourinho's long-term replacement, with
an announcement possible within the next 10 days.
Hiddink has overseen an improvement in Chelsea's form since he replaced
Mourinho just before Christmas, and he does not want an elongated
recruitment period to adversely affect his players as they look to climb the
table.
"I am in favour," the 69-year-old said when asked if he would prefer a quick
appointment. "But it's a personal opinion that when things are done you make
it transparent.
"You've heard more than I have because that's your job, you have to search
around where the rumours are. That's not my job. I'm just there to prepare
for the next game.
"I'm not involved in this so that's all you can get from me on this issue.
Of course this club is searching now and experienced managers they like and
there are a lot. It's up to them, to make up their mind and make the
decisions."
Hiddink went on to outline how different he feels life will be for Conte if
he makes a return to club management with a first assignment outside of
Italy.
Conte was in charge of five clubs - Arezzo, Bari, Atalanta, Siena and
Juventus - before taking over as Italy manager in 2014 and Hiddink is well
aware of the challenge he will face, having twice joined Chelsea after
spells in the international game.
"There are a lot of differences because when you are at a club you have the
daily influence as manager on the way of playing, on the behaviour on the
pitch, outside the pitch, so you have a lot of influence on a daily basis,"
Hiddink added.
"When you are a national team manager you have players for about four or
five days so that's more difficult to get it as you wish.
"It's always exciting [going to another country]. You want to get as soon as
possible into the culture of the country of course, and more the culture of
the club. You want to learn the language especially where it is a difficult
language.
"You have your own football language and it's not perfect of course, but
[you need] to go as soon as possible into the football culture of a club or
a country."
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