Guus Hiddink marked his return to Russia as the country's national coach this morning by killing any suggestion that he can be persuaded to continue as Chelsea's manager next season.

Hiddink, more popular in Russia than the prime minister Vladimir Putin, conceded that there has been a concerted campaign to keep him at Chelsea but described his much-affirmed decision to leave in May as "categorical", and said his future would only be decided in November, at the end of the World Cup qualifying campaign.

Asked whether there had been pressure to continue at Stamford Bridge, he said: "That's true. A lot of people are trying to persuade me to stay at Chelsea. But I won't change my decision. I'm leaving Chelsea in May."

Hiddink added that he hopes to see Chelsea through to the Champions League final at the end of May. He made clear that his long-term future as the national coach depends on whether Russia can overcome Germany in their World Cup qualifier in Moscow on 10 October or, if they finish second in the group, win a play-off in November to reach South Africa in 2010.

"We will do everything, and even more, to qualify for the World Cup … But if not the Russian Football Union would surely want to elaborate a new strategy for the development of football in the country. And in that case they'll need another man, not me," he said. "If this happens I'm ready to leave in November. Or decide whether we will work together in the future or not. This is the talk we had. It doesn't have any relation with Chelsea."

Hiddink made his remarks ahead of the World Cup qualifiers against Azerbaijan on Saturday and Liechtenstein the following Wednesday. Such is his popularity that a large crowd had gathered to catch a glimpse of him at the Marriott Grand hotel, ahead of a training session at the city's Luzhniki stadium.