Scolari rarely played the two forwards together, saying that doing so upset his midfield balance. With Anelka the man in form, Drogba was left in the cold.
The Ivorian had fought his way back from a series of injuries and he cut a forlorn figure in the weeks leading up to Scolari's departure on Feb. 9.
Hiddink arrived, immediately paired up the two men for his first game in charge at Aston Villa and was rewarded with Anelka's 21st goal of the season and a victory.
"Drogba and Anelka are disciplined in what we are asking from them," Hiddink said after the 1-0 first-leg victory.
"Didier is fighting so Anelka can take advantage. Generally it's good to have him in the centre position, it's difficult to play against him."
Chelsea's fans were delighted to have their old centre forward back, while Hiddink said he had found Drogba a willing worker.
"I didn't have to ask. On my first day here I discovered no player I had to motivate," said the Dutchman.
"I didn't have this problem at all with Drogba. From my first day he's worked hard in training and he did the same in the first game against Villa and again tonight."
Drogba's presence and Anelka's team spirit helped Chelsea to run rings round Juventus for 20 minutes but they gradually lost their way and began to sit deeper.
The Italians drew breath and came into the game themselves. Though they rarely threatened Petr Cech they enjoyed the lion's share of attacking possession in the second half.
"When you can't maintain control in the whole game it is a problem," he said. "You can't control everything for 90 minutes but you should be able to control 90 percent of the game.
"We are not 'top-top' in terms of fitness. The physical level is good but in these high-level games you must be more than top."
