Chelsea No2 Ray Wilkins is delighted with his return to management this season.

"I am loving it, I just love being around football people so it really doesn't matter to me who is in charge. I enjoy the day to day involvement, it is great fun," he told chelseafc.com. "It is nice to be involved, helping out with the team meetings again and from that aspect it is nice to have an input."

The players' fitness has come under scrutiny in recent weeks, and Wilkins explained that the intensity of work has been raised since Hiddink's arrival. That, however, is as much a product of circumstances as managerial preference.

"We have upped the intensity a touch with shorter, more intensive sessions, and I think the lads have enjoyed it. It would have been the same had Phil been here I have to say, because we are playing so many games," Wilkins explained.

"The games really start to build up for the lads, so it is vitally important that the sessions we do are short and sharp. We don't want them out there too long because it is very evident that rest is as important as working.

"They are certainly getting their workload regarding the games, but we just have to make sure the players who aren't starting the games are up to the level with a bit of extra training."