Hiddink: Perfect game, beautiful goal, but a gift to Liverpool at the end

If something, anything was actually riding on Wednesday's game for us (other than securing a top half of the table finish, which we did, so wooohooo party all night!), we might be a bit disappointed in the manner of conceding Liverpool's last-gasp equalizer.  Interim manager Guus Hiddink, in his penultimate match in management, called it a "nice present" to the Europa League final-bound hosts

"It was of course a big disappointment in the last minute, but I can say Chelsea played a perfect game tonight. We were defensively well-organised. Offensively we had the intention to score which we did through the beautiful goal of Eden."

"After that, we had the intention to go for the second but we didn't kill the game off in the second half. We had two or three open chances, but generally I can be very satisfied with the performance of the team, although it was a nice present for them in the last minute."

"We played with a lot of intent and ambition and that's how I like to see us play."

Chelsea certainly had chances to extend the lead after Eden Hazard wowed us with a goal few are capable of.  Alas, Traore slipped when Mignolet made a rash decision and took himself out of the play, while Pedro failed to convert after Hazard's raking pass put him through on goal.

But there was plenty to be happy about before Benteke (who also made a large impact in our first meeting this season) equalized, including Hazard's goal and general form, and 18-year-old Tammy Abraham's debut and general play.

"[Hazard] has had a difficult year. He has had injures, come back, had more injuries, and that made him vulnerable physically. The last few weeks he has been working on a programme to get him fully fit. We haven't played him for whole games. He is steadily getting his shape, and you can see what he is able to do."

"Nature gave him a lot of talent. He is gifted, he is smart, he can win a one-on-one anywhere on the pitch which is very important. He plays with courage. He receives a lot of physical contact but nevertheless he goes on. He's fit and fresh, mentally and physically, and it's a pleasure to see those type of players."

"Everyone in a job gets criticism and it's how you deal with that. They are all human and it can be possible it affects you a bit, but it's always good to see the reaction when you're criticised like he was."

"I like [Abraham's] attitude very much. He is training every now and then with us. He has played a lot of games for the Under-21s, for the Under-19s, for the Under-18s, and that has obstructed him a bit to be with us for a long time, which is the most important thing, but he has been with us for a couple of weeks and you can see his potential."

"Of course he must grow with his little touches but that's normal for an 18-year-old boy. He plays already physically like a man, and it's nice to see those players coming from the Academy."

-Guus Hiddink; source: Chelsea FC

One more game remains, on Sunday, against the Champions of England.  Let's see more of the same and close out the season on a positive note.