Guus Hiddink: Chelsea can still sign top talent despite Champions League exit

Chelsea interim manager Guus Hiddink believes the club will still be able to sign top-class players in the summer, even though they cannot offer Champions League football. The Blues were eliminated from Europe's premier club competition by Paris Saint-Germain and face a near impossible task to qualify for the tournament through the league.

Despite this, Hiddink is confident a club of Chelsea's stature will be able to lure sought-after players to West London. However, as he is due to leave Stamford Bridge at the end of the current campaign, Hiddink does not know what the club have planned.

"It is just speculation [about potential signings], and I don't like to speculate but if a club making a project with the players they want, if it is a serious project, then yes," the Chelsea manager confided during a pre-match news conference.

"It is difficult because I am going into speculation. On the other hand, Chelsea are a very attractive club to play for and all clubs they have experience of one-year lower performances but that does not mean the attraction of the club is not big for players."

Meanwhile, Chelsea face Everton in the FA Cup at Goodison Park on Saturday (12 March), and Hiddink has admitted he faces a huge challenge preparing his players for the game so soon after their Champions League exit to PSG.

"We have had just two days to recover physically but also psychologically, mentally it is always a blow when you are kicked out," the Chelsea boss said. "It is always a setback but the players have to respond. Physically we can do that, but mentally it is very important. They are very resilient."