Chelsea boss Guus Hiddink has defended Manchester United winger Memphis Depay ahead of his side's trip to Old Trafford on Monday.

Chelsea began Hiddink's second interim spell as manager with a 2-2 draw against Watford at Stamford Bridge on Saturday, a matter of hours after United suffered their third successive Premier League defeat as they lost 2-0 away to Stoke City.

Van Gaal's men are now winless in their last seven games in all competitions and Depay was widely criticised afterwards for a mistake in the buildup to Stoke's opener.

Netherlands international Depay has struggled at United after making a bright start after his summer move from PSV Eindhoven, but Hiddink defended his compatriot.

"He's a very young guy," Hiddink told a news conference on Saturday. "When he was in Holland he was one of the star players at a very young age, because in Holland there is a lack of star players who have been playing for many years in the league.

"At a young age he was hailed as one of the big talents, and of course he has this talent, but now he's also confronted with the demands of playing in the Premier League, which are much higher in the intensity of the game during 90 minutes.

"That's an experience that all players, not just him, have to overcome and they need time for that. He has this talent but he's also giving interviews saying, 'I have to get used to another way of playing, the intensity of the games every three days.' Those guys need a bit of the protection of experienced players."

Hiddink says his team must go to Old Trafford believing they can claim all three points despite the absence of striker Diego Costa, who picked up his fifth Premier League booking of the season after scoring twice against Watford.

"We go there and it will be difficult but I hope this team will show in every game, away or home, the ambition they showed [against Watford] in going for a win anywhere," Hiddink said.