LONDON -- Guus Hiddink insisted that Chelsea were not outplayed by Manchester City during Saturday's 3-0 defeat at Stamford Bridge, but admitted a lack of leadership could make it harder for emerging youngsters to fulfill their potential beyond this season.
A clinical hat trick from Sergio Aguero condemned Hiddink to his worst defeat in two spells as Chelsea interim manager and meant the Blues have now won just one of their past seven matches in all competitions.
Aguero scored twice from counter-attacks launched by Kevin De Bruyne, who shone on his return to the club who sold him to Wolfsburg for £18 million in January 2014.
When Thibaut Courtois was sent off for bringing down Fernandinho on 78 minutes, Aguero stepped up to beat replacement Asmir Begovic from 12 yards and further Chelsea's humiliation.
But despite the emphatic nature of the scoreline, Hiddink afterwards insisted that City had not comprehensively bested his team in all departments, but simply taken full advantage of the opportunities that came their way.
"We made some mistakes," Hiddink admitted. "We had control in the first half with some corners. We were warned twice that they could have a beautiful counter and it happened from one of our corners.
"The second [goal] was similar, which means we were in control though we were not having the ultimate bite to finish it off. When you are 2-0 down against a team with a lot of experience it's difficult. On top of that we got the red card and then it's totally different.
"It was a bad defeat because first of all we were playing a very strong team. They have proven it in the last few weeks and it's not for nothing they are in the last four of Europe. It's good to see that team unless you have to play them.
"The 0-3 seems high and is high. We weren't outplayed by smartness, but by three counter situations. Of course they have a more experienced team. I think the defeat is high, deserved, but not so negative that we are now desperate."
Asked for his impressions of De Bruyne's performance, Hiddink added: "He's very keen on playing in between the lines and they know to find him. He's a beautiful player to see. We didn't create open chances in the first half. We had half-chances but the difference between us and City is that they needed one and a half chances to score one goal."
Hiddink handed starts to youngsters Baba Rahman and Ruben Loftus-Cheek as Chelsea look to use what remains of the worst season of the Roman Abramovich era to develop their promising talents, but after the City defeat the Dutchman admitted that a lack of leadership in his squad will not make the task any easier.
"It's good to see younger players coming through but it's good to have the younger players developing themselves on the lead of big players," Hiddink added. "That's a bit lacking at the moment. If you have leaders then it's easier for them to integrate, but I emphasise in the instance of Loftus-Cheek, he's developing himself rather OK."