Guus Hiddink is to manage the English club Chelsea until at least the summer. But you have to be careful when making statements concerning top level football because the truth one day appears to be a lie the next.

The best example is the board of directors’ vote of confidence in a manager – which almost always turns out to be a warning that a dismissal is on the cards.
Hiddink, who manages the Russian national team, first said he would help Chelsea out until the summer as a gesture of friendship to Roman Abramovich, the Russian billionaire who owns the club and has sacked three managers in less than 18 months.
But within 24 hours, Hiddink was already hinting that he might stay longer, which would surely mean he would have to break his promise to steer the Russians to the 2010 World Cup.
Chelsea cannot be managed by a part-timer. Hiddink is a shrewd manager who has made his name by taking underdogs such as South Korea and PSV Eindhoven to great heights.
But who does he think he is kidding with that friendship yarn? He will be getting a huge salary on top of what he earns as the Russian coach. As for friendship with Abramovich, Hiddink will soon feel an icy Siberian blast from the Russian if results at Chelsea don’t improve.