Chelsea
interim boss Guus Hiddink believes his side were fully deserving of a point
in their 1-1 draw with Manchester United.
The Blues left it late to get back on level terms following Jesse Lingard's
opener at Stamford Bridge, with Diego Costa's equaliser coming in
added-time.
Hiddink admitted he was impressed by Lingard's 61st minute swivelled strike
and was pleased with his team's reaction which saw them salvage a point
against Louis van Gaal's side.
"I think we deserved a point," Hiddink said. "I think United started well.
We dropped too far back and I thought they dominated us for the first 20
minutes without having big chances or a big threat.
"Later on we closed in a bit more and we got some chances in the first half
as well.
"They made a beautiful goal without good marking from our side but it was a
beautiful goal. Afterwards the team reacted very well and deserved this
point."
A nasty looking knee injury sustained in the second half by Chelsea
centre-back Kurt Zouma saw more than six additional minutes played at
Stamford Bridge.
Van Gaal became visibly frustrated with the match officials as the game was
winding down, but Hiddink dismissed his compatriot's post-match complaints
about the amount of additional time that was played.
The Dutchman added: "Besides that incident, which lasted at least five to
six minutes at least, there was also the normal time for changes - we had
all three changes.
"It's at least 30 seconds a change. That is four or five times 30 seconds
plus the five or six minutes. That means there should even have been eight
minutes."
Eden Hazard came on as a substitute for the second game in succession but
Hiddink made it clear Chelsea are simply trying to ease the midfielder back
into action following a groin injury sustained last month.
"We had to bring Eden Hazard in," Hiddink said.
"As you know he's been coming back from injury in these last weeks -that's
why we brought him in.
"That was the plan regardless of the score. When you bring him in you have a
threat and I hope he will get his momentum in the near future."
top