CHELSEA WOULD BE MAD TO LET GUUS GO.

Byline: LAWRO

AS BRILLIANT as Barcelona were the other night, I have a sneaking suspicion that this is Chelsea's year in the Champions League.

The players appear deeply motivated after the heartbreak of last year and Guus Hiddink's arrival has definitely given them a renewed impetus.

Against Liverpool, Hiddink quickly decided he would stop them playing once they'd scored their goal, then he slowly imposed his tactics on them.

He put Michael Essien on Steven Gerrard, and John Terry and Alex on Fernando Torres. Gradually, he snuffed out the impact they were making.

I can probably remember only once when Luiz Felipe Scolari made the tactical changes to affect a game.

Hiddink, with his vast international and European experience, is different.

He is far more fluid. He sees things earlier and is bold enough to change them.

I expect Chelsea to march on and I will be fascinated to see what happens in the summer.

Clearly, there are all sorts of highlyplaced forces in Russia pulling at the Dutchman, in what is becoming a protracted tug of war for his services.

But Roman Abramovich must look at the way Hiddink has rejuvenated his side and realise he'd be mad to let him go.

The talk is that AC Milan boss Carlo Ancelotti (inset) is on his way but, as far as I know, he doesn't speak any English.

To win the Premier League is difficult enough. To do it with someone who won't even be able to speak the language for the first few months makes it even harder.

There is a close bond between Abramovich and Hiddink, which has not existed with any of the other Chelsea managers he's appointed. I do not expect the Blues to let the Dutchman leave without a fight.

CAPTION(S):

REAL DIFFERENCE Guus Hiddink