Aston Villa vs. Chelsea: Guus Hiddink's Key Quotes from Pre-Match Presser

Chelsea manager Guus Hiddink thinks Alexandre Pato could yet have a role to play for the Blues before the end of the season and has stated that he'll be in the squad for Saturday’s tussle with Aston Villa. 

The Dutchman was addressing the assembled press on Friday ahead of the champions’ trip to the bottom club, with the team seeking to keep their slender hopes of finishing in a European spot alive. And Hiddink revealed there will be a chance for some experimentation in the run-in, which could see Pato handed an opportunity, per the club’s Twitter feed:

The Brazil international signed for the Blues on loan in the January transfer window, with supporters intrigued to see whether he could cut it in English football. Despite their struggles, Hiddink has yet to turn to the 26-year-old in a competitive match so far. 

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It’s a scenario that doesn’t seem to suggest Pato has a long-term future at the club, and that’s a status which applies to plenty in this team, including captain John Terry.

There’s still been no clarity from the club on the skipper’s situation, with his contract set to expire at the end of the season. Looking even further ahead, however, Hiddink has backed the veteran defender to follow in the footsteps of some other illustrious names and become a manager:

However, the Chelsea boss played down any suggestions of an England return for the 35-year-old, amid claims from Matt Lawton in the Daily Mail that Three Lions boss Roy Hodgson is considering bringing Terry back into the setup.

Hiddink isn’t sure there is much to the story, per Ben Dinnery of ESPN FC:

One player who Hiddink definitely thinks will be at Stamford Bridge next season is Thibaut Courtois, despite comments he made during international duty with Belgium.

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“I don't know,” was his answer when Belgian broadcaster RTBF asked him whether or not he’d be at the club next season, per Mark Rodden of ESPN FC. While much has been made of the comments since, Hiddink doesn’t feel as though there is much to worry about:

Looking ahead to the clash with Villa Saturday lunchtime, the manager revealed that following the international break there are a few question marks over the fitness of certain players, including the side’s star performer this term Willian:

This spell of the season will be difficult for Chelsea. While the Premier League was previously an environment in which players could push for places in the team for the cup competitions, with eliminations in both the FA Cup and the Champions League last month, all the Blues are left with is mid-table obscurity and a battle for minor places.

Some fresh faces would certainly keep things interesting for the travelling supporters, whether that be the introduction of Pato or even tapping into the team’s academy setup to bring some young blood into the XI. A game against Villa, who are bottom of the Premier League, is certainly a brilliant opportunity to put some refreshing ideas into practice.