Insult was added to injury for Hiddink when Diego Costa was sent off after the last in a series of altercations with Gareth Barry, and the Spain international may face further action if the Football Association decides he bit the Everton midfielder.
Asked what the mood in the Chelsea dressing room was after the loss, Hiddink replied: "Of course they like to win and most of them are used to winning, but everyone knows the season of Chelsea which was until December very, very bad.
"It's difficult to achieve the Champions League [qualification] and maintain two roads to success which were the Champions League and the FA Cup.
"They are gone now and that's a pity, but when you play in a big club like Chelsea -- and we will emphasise this to the players in the upcoming time -- you must also play with responsibility and pride even if the season is as it is now.
"One day more rest favoured by the FA would have been good for us, but it is like it is. TV is demanding, sometimes against the health of players."
When pressed on whether he would classify his second spell at Chelsea as a success or failure, Hiddink continued: "Success is playing a final and winning a final, but you must be realistic also.
"This year it's not just from December, it's a whole year that has created an atmosphere where it's difficult to go fresh for the prizes. We tried to, the team responded but the fact is that success is winning the FA Cup or Champions League.
"But I'm happy with what we managed to do because in December people [inside the club] were sweating and you never know in the Premier League where you can go.
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