The truth of the matter, however, is that Chelsea's performance yesterday was the result of one single, even straightforward improvement: confidence. Tactics, positioning and all that good stuff played their part, but as I spent most of the four months between August 8 and José Mourinho's sacking telling anyone who'd listen, Chelsea's problems were all psychological. They were simply broken on the inside. Yesterday they looked anything but. Incredible what a difference Guus Hiddink has made with just a lighter touch.
However, we should avoid too much excitement. Hiddink has merely arrested the relegation form. Chelsea are, today, 12th in the Premier League, as opposed to 16th when Mourinho was sacked. Victory over Newcastle was Hiddink's first league home win since taking over (the 3-1 result on December 19 could hardly be chalked up to the Dutchman, coming just two days after being appointed). But while this may sound ungrateful - it's not - the confidence Hiddink has instilled in his browbeaten and previously disinterested players will surely bode well for at least an FA Cup run and, who knows, the unlikely turnover of PSG in the Champions League.
Pleasing as it was to see a blistering win by Chelsea from my own season ticketed seat, the realist - some might say cynic - in me knows that Hiddink's task is merely one of brief containment. Any absence from Europe next season will surely herald an exodus in the summer. Diego Costa will undoubtedly return to Atletico Madrid, Eden Hazard will get to realise his ambition of playing for Real Madrid (unless PSG come in for him), John Terry will probably kick his last for Chelsea against Leicester City on the final day of the season, and others, like Willian, Courtois and Oscar, will probably get itchy feet themselves ahead of a new manager coming in.
And perhaps that is for the best. With 34 or so players of every discipline out on loan, and one of the most successful youth squads continuing to add to their trophy haul, surely even the most bizarre transfer policy at Chelsea must recognise that a generationally-rare opportunity to rebuild with young talent presents itself next season.
The question is how prepared Roman Abramovich and his lickspittle board are to let the Chelsea field lie fallow for a season. No Europe means no Champions League TV windfall, which means a relatively lean year with which to reduce the club's debt. And then there's the matter of a new manager. Who, of Europe and Latin America's potentially available elite coaches will be prepared to come in, work with a fresh young squad without the attraction of Champions League football?
A Manuel Pellegrini or a Mark Hughes might, but it's unlikely either will figure in the frame of reference of the Chelsea board, especially one whose ambition to find a replacement striker extends only as far as buying a crocked Alexandre Pato to cover for an even more crocked Radamel Falcao, who in turn was desperately intended to fill the gap left by Fernando Torres. See what I'm saying here?
One sometimes wonders whether those in charge of talent acquisition at Chelsea really know what football is about at all, given some of the names that have come in only to be forgotten. So it doesn't bode well for the next choice of manager...unless, having been thwarted repeatedly in his attempts to sign Pep Guardiola, Roman Abramovich goes all out to land Mauricio Pochettino, who would be the best option for bringing a squad of youngsters up to European prowess.
Whatever happens, let's just agree that Chelsea today may have improved from the form they were in back in December, and they may well push on in at least the FA Cup. But they do, slightly, flatter to deceive. Against MK Dons in the cup two weeks ago they could have - actually, they should have - won by ten goals or more. The scoreline that afternoon ended 5-1, as did yesterday's. A useful reminder that progress and improvement, when you've been as deep in despair as Chelsea were, is still only relative.
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