Chelsea midfielder John Obi Mikel has warned that outgoing manager Guus Hiddink will be a hard act to follow.

The Dutchman will quit as Chelsea's interim coach after the FA Cup final against Everton and return to his main role as boss of Russia's national side.

Hiddink is determined to lead Russia into the 2010 World Cup finals in South Africa and has resisted all attempts to get him to stay at Stamford Bridge.

Mikel is adamant they must send him back with an FA Cup success under his belt.

The Nigerian midfielder said: "It's very important for the players and everyone. We have to win the Cup for the manager.

"We haven't won anything since we won the FA Cup in 2007, so we have to make sure we win this one."

He added: "If we win, it will bring back a little bit of hope back to the club and back into the players."

AC Milan coach Carlo Ancelotti is tipped to replace Hiddink but Mikel maintains that whoever takes over the reins must build on the foundations set by the former Real Madrid and PSV coach.

Mikel added: "Every manager has his own system and his own idea of how he wants the team to play.

"Whichever manager comes in has to follow what Guus has done. He has done really, really well for the club.

"All managers are different so we have to make sure we adapt again to the style and the way he wants us to play. But he has set a very high standard."

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