avoid relegation from the Premier League.
The champions have had a dreadful 2015-16 season and sit
14th in the table after 21 games, with their 2-2 draw
against West Brom in midweek keeping them unbeaten in
five but also meaning they have only won three league
matches since October.
Hiddink has repeatedly insisted that he will not give up on
the distant prospect of a top-four finish until it is
mathematically impossible but hinted that things could get
worse before they get better ahead of tough fixtures against
Everton and Arsenal.
"There is a 12-point difference to fourth place and
Tottenham, which is a gap," he told reporters.
"Of course we all like to look forward and to the top of the
table but also don't be unrealistic, you are six points off the
line of relegation, that is also a fact.
"So we have to work hard and be very concentrated to
gather our points so that we can step up. That is why it was
a pity that in 86 minutes we got this draw against West
Brom which would have helped us a lot in going up.
"It [a relegation battle] is a very realistic view. We were
down when we started, we were one point off the relegation
line. Now we have a little bit more room to breathe but have
two difficult games coming up.
"Everton have a very good away record - in the last 10
games I think they have got a result nine times - and then
Arsenal, which means two very difficult games.
"If you don't gather the points, you don't know what the
others can do and the Premier League can surprise you."
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