The Russia coach is in talks about succeeding Scolari

Guus Hiddink wants to take charge of Chelsea until the summer as a favour to Roman Abramovich but has no intention of walking out on Russia.

The Dutchman did the same thing with PSV and Australia during the 2005-06 season and managed to win the Eredivisie. It is plausible that he could juggle both jobs because Russia’s only competitive games over the next few months are against Azerbaijan and Liechtenstein. He said:

“I must say that this is an exceptional situation. If it was any other club aside from Chelsea my answer would be a straight ‘no’.

“But Chelsea is different because I have good relations with the owner. So I would like to help them in this situation if I could. But this would only be for the next two or three months until the end of the season.

“I will not leave my job with the Russian national team. It’s out of the question. When I took the Russia job it was a long-term project and I don’t like to leave it unfinished.”

Is this a good move for Chelsea or should they make a permanent appointment? Who will be lined up to take over in the summer? Let us know what you think with a comment below.

UPDATE: The Russian FA have given Chelsea permission to speak to Hiddink about an interim role at the club.

UEFA have been playing with the crazy pots again

The good officials of the Champions League gathered around the trough in Monaco this afternoon, pausing briefly to pompously remove some plastic footballs from mixing bowls in one of their favourite little rituals.

As per, various pundits and sundry authorities were on hand to discuss the mouth-watering nature of the dance card, while those associated with the managerial side of things vowed not to underestimate anybody, as decreed by UEFA’s guidelines on how to talk to the press at times such as this.

Of the English teams, Liverpool probably feel the men in blazers could have looked harder to find them a couple of soft sides, but at least

Farfán and Eto’o snub North Londoners

Spurs could be starting the season with an inferiority complex, as Peruvian Jefferson Farfán has become the latest player to shun a move to White Hart Lane. The striker confirmed that he received an offer from Tottenham, but yesterday chose to leave PSV for Schalke instead.

This news comes on top of a recent failure to lure Ronaldinho (and let’s be honest, Spurs fans should hope it stays that way) and Samuel Eto’o’s comments dismissing the club: “Tottenham, and I hope the English fans will forgive me, are a club in mid-table and I need more,” the Barcelona man told CRTV.

The rumour vine tells us that Anton Ferdinand is having a medical at Spurs today - but will he sign on the dotted line or continue the Ramos snubbing?

UPDATE: Arsenal’s new signing Carlos Vela is now getting involved in the art of Spurs fan goading. On the arrival of fellow countryman Giovani Dos Santos at White hart Lane, he said:

“I hope things go well for him at Tottenham, that he gets the minutes he wasn’t given at Barcelona and that he shows what he can do.

“He is a very good player and let’s hope he can then move on to a better team.”

Have at it, folks.