Chelsea aim to make good first impression on Hiddink

Chelsea will be out to impress new manager Guus Hiddink when the Premier League club end a turbulent week with an FA Cup fifth round clash against Watford on Saturday.

Although Hiddink doesn’t officially take charge until next week, the Dutch coach flew to England to meet his new players on Thursday and will get a first look at them in action at Vicarage Road.

Just seven days ago Hiddink was preparing for a training camp with the Russian national team in Turkey. Now he has been catapulted into the Stamford Bridge soap opera until the end of the season following Luiz Felipe Scolari’s dismissal on Monday.

Hiddink, who will continue as Russia coach, arrives at a club struggling with a dressing room divided between those who supported Scolari and others who campaigned for his dismissal.

Brazil defender Alex, who worked with Hiddink at PSV Eindhoven, expects him to make an immediate impact.

“He is a good coach and a fantastic man,” he said. “In my three years in Holland, two of them were with Hiddink.

“We won the title both times, and the double once, as well as reaching the semi-finals of the Champions League in my first year.”

Watford’s bid for a famous scalp could be helped by a little inside knowledge.

The Championship side are managed by former Chelsea reserve coach Brendan Rodgers, while Blues midfielder Frank Lampard will spot a familiar face in his dad Frank snr, who is a coaching consultant at Watford.

Hornets midfielder Lee Williamson insists Scolari’s departure doesn’t make his team’s task any easier.

“When you are playing against Premier League opposition it will always be a quality side lining up opposite you, so it will be a hard game no matter who the manager is,” he said.

Swansea aim to follow their fourth round win over holders Portsmouth with another giant-killing against Premier League Fulham at the Liberty Stadium.

Roberto Martinez’s Championship side haven’t reached the last eight of the Cup since 1964 and Swans chairman Huw Jenkins urged them to make history.

“When you look at our history, we all talk about the run to the semi-finals in 1964,” Jenkins said.

“I’m not old enough to have been there but my dad was and I think it would be a fantastic achievement if we could recreate that.

“Roberto and the players have got an opportunity to form their own piece of history.”

Fulham boss Roy Hodgson is well aware of the threat posed by Swansea.

“We’re playing a very much in-form team on Saturday,” he said. “They’re a team that’s done very well and they deservedly won against Portsmouth.

“They’ve done ever so well since then and are just outside the play-off places so we know it’s going to be a tough game.”

Also on Saturday, Championship outfit Coventry will bid to emulate their 4-1 victory over Blackburn in last season’s Cup third round when they travel to Ewood Park for a re-match.

Sheffield United, currently fifth in the Championship, will fancy their chances of an upset against a Hull team without a league win in seven matches.

West Ham host Middlesbrough in a repeat of the 2006 FA Cup semi-final won 1-0 by the Hammers.

On Sunday, Manchester United’s bid for a clean sweep of every competition they have entered this season continues at Derby.

United, who have already won the Club World Cup, are in the League Cup final, top of the Premier League and have reached the Champions League second round.

Sir Alex Ferguson’s team also knocked Derby out of the League Cup at the semi-final stage just a month ago.

Everton host Aston Villa in Sunday’s other fixture.

5th rnd fixtures

Saturday (1500GMT unless stated)

Blackburn v Coventry

Sheffield United v Hull

Swansea v Fulham (1245GMT)

Watford v Chelsea (1730GMT)

West Ham v Middlesbrough

Sunday

Derby v Manchester United (1630GMT)

Everton v Aston Villa (1430GMT)

4th rnd replay

Monday

Arsenal v Cardiff (1945GMT)