Russia striker Andrey Arshavin said he'd fear for his national football side if coach Guus Hiddink decides to stay at Chelsea permanently.
The Arsenal star made the comments on the eve of Russia's World Cup qualifyer against Azerbaijan in Moscow.
He told London's Evening Standard newspaper: "Hiddink is a very important chain in our team. He is its brain. He made us believe that we can play and he showed us how to do it."
Hiddink has repeatedly said he'll honor his contract and stay in charge of Russia until 2010, and will leave Chelsea in May at the end of the current season in the English Premier League.
The Dutchman is now firmly focused on Saturday’s game. Although Azerbaijan are huge underdogs, Hiddink says they and their German coach and world cup winner Berti Vogts should be respected.
”We had several meetings and I know him as a wonderful person. He exactly knows the signs about football, which means that he’s very experienced. And that’s why we have to be very careful that he doesn’t, lets say, fool us here and make things happen that we don’t want,” Guss Hiddink said.