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| Nicholas Anelka scored the winning goal against Aston Villa |
Chelsea have returned to winning ways under their new caretaker manager 臨時代理教練 Guus Hiddink, beating Aston Villa 1-0 on Saturday.
It was a dream start 夢想開始 for Hiddink, who has agreed to manage Chelsea until the end of the season while retaining 保留 his position as coach of the Russian national side.
Hiddink took over from 接管 Luis Felipe Scolari two weeks ago after the Brazilian manager was sacked having been in charge for only seven months.
The move has been described as temporary, as Hiddink is under contract 根據合同 to manage Russia until 2010, but Chelsea owner Roman Abramovich, who is a powerful force in Russian football, made a personal plea 私人請求 to Hiddink to take the reins 掌管 at Chelsea.
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I saw a little of the game but it sent me to sleep.
Claudio Ranieri, Juventus manager
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Hiddink called his appointment "a favour for a friend".
"Abramovich does so much for Russian football that I wanted to give something back. He called me personally," said the former Netherlands, South Korea and Australia coach.
Having won his first game domestically 國內（比賽）, Hiddink must now take his side into Europe to face Italian giants Juventus in the Champions’ League on Wednesday.
Ironically 諷刺地, Juventus are currently managed by another ex-Chelsea coach Claudio Ranieri, who made some barbed comments 刺人的話 after watching Chelsea’s game against Aston Villa.
"I saw a little of the game but it sent me to sleep," said Ranieri, meaning he thought the match was boring.
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When I was in England Chelsea was the best team between 2004 and 2006. That is why we won two consecutive Premierships.
Jose Mourinho, Inter Milan manager
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"Joking apart 說正經的, we are up against a battleship 戰艦," he added, which means that he actually has a lot of respect for Chelsea and sees them as a dangerous side.
Another ex-Chelsea manager who is back in the headlines is "the Special One", Jose Mourinho, whose team Inter Milan are in action against Premiership leaders Manchester United tomorrow.
Mourinho, who is as well-known for his boastful comments 自夸的評論 as his management skills, has claimed that he deserves the credit for making Manchester United the team they are today.
"When I was in England, Chelsea was the best team between 2004 and 2006. That is why we won two consecutive Premierships," said Mourinho.
"Manchester United at that time realised they needed to be better to win it, and in my third season that’s what they did," added Mourinho.
Whatever you think of the logic of his arguments, Mourinho’s teams are always dangerous, which means Tuesday’s game promises to be a mouth-watering display 令人垂涎期盼的一戰.
