Monday 4 January 2016 13:49, UK
Former Chelsea striker Tony Cascarino says manager Guus Hiddink is now getting the best out of his players but is not convinced he can secure a top-four finish in the Premier League.
Goals from Oscar, Willian and Diego Costa secured an impressive 3-0 win at Crystal Palace on Sunday, the first in Hiddink's second spell with the club.
The game marked a welcome return to form for Spain international Costa, who was instrumental in setting up Oscar for the opening goal and caused problems for the Palace defence before getting on the scoresheet himself.
"I don't think he has changed too much. He has kept the same personnel," Cascarino said of Hiddink on Sky Sports Now.
"But Diego Costa made a massive impact on the game. As we saw with the opening goal, that is what he does when he is at his best.
"He made a run down the side and pulled the ball back to Oscar. It's instinctive... you know where your playing partner is.
"Everyone has been lifted by the performance and the back four defended far better. It looked like a performance from the first half of last season. We know Palace had a few players out but Chelsea were superb after a difficult first 20 minutes.
"The whole ethos of a club can improve just with a change in manager. Suddenly the team look like they have been lifted, they look fresh."
Despite a turnaround in fortunes since Hiddink replaced Jose Mourinho, Cascarino feels Chelsea have too much ground to make up to finish as one of the top four teams in the Premier League.
"I had a look at how realistic it is and actually it feels like it is impossible for Chelsea to make the top four," he added.
"If you take the last 18 games of last season, they got 41 points, which is a good return.
"Leicester got 27 and they would still finish, with the gap they have on Chelsea this season, above Chelsea if they got another 27.
"The lowest points return to secure a fourth-placed Champions League place has been 67. To reach that, Chelsea would need another 44 points over the remaining 18 league games, which would be the highest return they would have had over the last 15 years.
"Out of 54 points remaining, that is a massive ask for Chelsea. I think it is nearly impossible for them."
Hiddink's contract runs until the end of the season but he hinted before the win over Palace that he could stay on for an extended period.
Former England international and England U21 manager Stuart Pearce was also a guest on Sky Sports Now and he believes the Dutchman is now in a strong position to retain his position.
"It depends on how the results pick up and whether, if Roman Abramovic has a target out there, whether they can get him or not," said Pearce.
"If they can't, then Guus is in prime position to carry on."
