Hiddink's Men Improving Through Hard Graft
Chelsea manager Guus Hiddink believes the team are starting to progress because the players are willing to put in hard graft.
The Blues earned a 3-0 victory over Crystal Palace at Selhurst Park with goals from Oscar, Willian and Diego Costa.
It was Chelsea's first win since Hiddink returned to the club for a second stint as interim boss in December, having drawn the first two games under the Dutchman.
And the former Netherlands boss hailed John Obi Mikel as the new driving force of his demand for a redoubled work ethic as Chelsea continue to rebuild after Jose Mourinho's sacking.
Hiddink said: "We've started working and if the team is not doing well through a long period then you have to look for security, and that's why we emphasised good, hard work, tactically and in a defensive way.
"I don't like to see the team drop back very far and seek false security. When they get the ball they know to play.
"We don't need to add a lot of quality of players: they are blessed by nature with big quality.
"But they have to know when things aren't going as we wished, that we have to look for causes, and that's why we started working.
"The very talented players, they start working also, to invest in the dirty work and not just the beautiful game they can play, because this league is very demanding.
"And if you think you can do it just on your quality, what's more given by talent than nature, then this league will kill you."
Hiddink believes Mikel is the ideal man to balance out Chelsea's attacking and defensive instincts, suggesting an extended run for the 28-year-old.
"He played very well but also in the previous game," said Hiddink. "He's the ideal player to bring balance to the team.
"If the team is not willing to defend well, or hasn't got the right balance, then you'll concede a lot of goals. I think John Obi can be one of the key figures in bringing back that balance.
"He can recover his radar, he reads the game very well, he knows where the strength of the opponent is and knows how to combat that. He has very good sense, he doesn't do it in a brutal way, he's very elegant.
"Someone who can defend so smoothly is very beautiful."
