Chelsea 2 Blackburn Rovers

GUUS HIDDINK admitted he was surprised by the outpouring of affection from the Chelsea fans after his final match in charge at Stamford Bridge ended with a 2-0 win over Blackburn.

The Dutchman – who took temporary charge in February – is set to return to his fulltime post with the Russian national team at the end of the season.

That, though, did not stop his name being chanted by the Chelsea faithful this afternoon, and Hiddink was given a guard of honour by the players following their post-match lap of appreciation.

‘‘It was a nice way to say goodbye with a victory,’’ said Hiddink, whose team won through a fourth-minute header by Florent Malouda and Nicolas Anelka’s 18th Barclays Premier League goal of the season.

‘‘It was nice appreciation from the crowd, and to be honest, I did not expect this when I am here for a relatively short period to do my job.

‘‘So this reaction of the crowd was surprising for me, and I would like to thank them.

‘‘I expected it to be respectful from the heart, but not more.

‘‘That is why I was positively surprised by the reaction of the people, so thanks.’’ He added: ‘‘We enjoyed the atmosphere, but the season is not over for me and the team.

We would love to finish it off with the FA Cup.’’ Hiddink is set to return to his Russian ‘‘adventure’’ following the FA Cup final, determined to honour in full the contract with the national federation.

However, the Dutchman – who took Holland, South Korea and most recently Australia to the latter stages of the World Cup – admitted it was only natural to wonder if he was making the right decision to leave Stamford Bridge.

‘‘I have many second thoughts. Sometimes third thoughts. You cannot avoid them,’’ he said.