Willian Talks Chelsea's Top 4 Premier League Chances, Guus Hiddink, Oscar, More

Chelsea midfielder Willian is still optimistic the club—currently 15th in the Premier League—can finish in the top four. 

According to James Gray of the Express, the Brazilian said after the Blues' Boxing Day draw at home to Watford: "This situation is difficult for us but I think we can go and win game by game and finish the league in the top four."

The statement offers a contrast to Jose Mourinho's assertion after his final game in charge the club would not be able to finish in a Champions League place. Chelsea are 13 points behind Tottenham Hotspur in fourth place.

However, with Arsenal, Manchester City and Manchester United all struggling to achieve a consistent run of good form and there remaining a possibility Leicester City could eventually fall away, the Blues could steadily gain points on their rivals if they can get back to winning week-in, week-out as they did last season.

Richard Heathcote/Getty Images

The 27-year-old also gave his thoughts on interim manager Guus Hiddink having previously been signed by him earlier in his career:

"I know him from Anzhi in Russia and I like to work with him. He is a nice guy and a good manager so now we have to learn from what he can pass on and he can explain."

Willian has been one of the few rays of hope for the Blues this season and has seven goals and five assists to his name in all competitions.

Hiddink, who previously came in as Chelsea's interim boss in 2009, has been drafted in to salvage their season just had he did then after Mourinho failed to get the best out of his top stars this term.

Willian's form makes him one of the only players at Stamford Bridge not in need of such rejuvenation, but may nevertheless thrive given his good relationship with the Dutchman.

OLLY GREENWOOD/Getty Images

The Brazilian also had sympathy for team-mate and compatriot Oscar following his penalty miss against the Hornets on Boxing Day after he slipped and sent his spot-kick blazing over the bar. He said:

"I am so sorry about Oscar. He was unlucky that moment when he went to shoot but in this game we showed our quality and we have to now keep going the same way."

Social media was less kind, with journalist Piers Morgan seeing the funny side while NBCSN's Michael Davies seeing it as indicative of Chelsea's season:

The midfielder also believed Chelsea played well in the 2-2 stalemate and is looking forward to their clash with Manchester United on Monday:

"I think we deserved to win. We played well second half. Of course we were in a difficult moment in that half when Watford scored a second goal but we kept going, we kept fighting and then we scored." He added: "We have a big game on Monday and we have to go there to try to win the game."

Davies noted that despite their ongoing vulnerabilities Chelsea are showing improvement under Hiddink:

Meanwhile, football writer Jonathan Wilson wryly notes the importance of Monday's clash despite the clubs' respective positions:

In recent weeks United have been in even worse form than the Blues and are under more pressure to take three points at Old Trafford.

Though Hiddink hasn't been at Stamford Bridge long enough to coax a more dramatic improvement out of his players, they are perhaps showing enough to indicate they can narrowly overcome a Red Devils side devoid of form, ideas and confidence.

The road to recovery under the Dutchman will be a long one, but they can make a promising start if they beat United on Monday.