Guus Hiddink asks Ghanaian defender to 'kill' attackers in his territory

kwame

April 17, 2016 3:33 PM

Chelsea manager Guus Hiddink advices Ghanaian defender Abdul Baba Rahman to toughen up for survival in the English Premier League

Chelsea interim boss Guus Hiddink has asked

The manager who will be leaving at the end of the season for Italy manager Antonio Conte to take over admitted Baba Rahman was skillful enough but needed to take control of his territory on the pitch.

Guus Hiddink who also revealed Baba Rahman was comfortably good when he switched him to right-back in training said of the Black Stars defender:

“When you come in you have your impressions of players, and from Baba I had the impression after a few days that he was too quiet but very skillful in both legs.

"He has his left foot from nature but he can handle very well his right foot, which is unusual for left-footed players.

“This week I played him in some [training] games in the right-back position, because I was curious to see if he could do it. He did it without any problems. He's a skillful player but to survive also in the Premier League, he must make it difficult for a manager to take him out of the team.

“He has the skill but he must also be able to be dominant defensively. He's working on that. He's a very nice person and I said to him: 'Be a nice person outside the pitch but be less nice on it.'

“With experience I hope he can make the next step, because he has the skill. He has to get the attitude of: 'This is my area and whoever comes in, I kill them.”

Abdul Baba Rahman joined Chelsea from German Bundesliga team Augsburg at the start of the season. The former Asante Kotoko player has made 19 appearances in all competitions for the English Premier League champions.

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