Chelsea's new interim manager Guus Hiddink has described the club's nosedive in form this season as "frightening" is in his first press conference since succeeding Jose Mourinho.

Seven months ago Chelsea cantered to the Premier League title, but then managed only four wins in 16 games this season before Mourinho left Stamford Bridge last week.

Hiddink has arrived in a similar caretaker role to the one he took on in 2009, when he guided the Blues to FA Cup success after the sacking of Luiz Felipe Scolari.

On Saturday he watched from the stands as his new team beat Sunderland 3-1 and now he is preparing for his first game back in charge at home to in-form Watford on Boxing Day.

Speaking of the Blues' struggles this term, Hiddink told reporters: "It was frightening for everyone at the club to see Chelsea so close to the relegation zone."

Chelsea are 15th in the table, 20 points behind surprise leaders Leicester City at Christmas and only three above the drop zone.

Saturday's opponents Watford enter the match on a four-game winning streak and lie just one point behind the top four.

"I have a lot of respect for Watford," Hiddink added. "They are very disciplined and they have two very dangerous strikers (Odion Ighalo and Troy Deeney)."

Ighalo (12) and Deeney (5) have scored 17 of Watford's 21 Premier League goals this season.