Chelsea interim coach Calum McFarlane expressed his feelings of “relief” after leading the team to the FA Cup final with a 1-0 semifinal victory over Leeds United. This win came just three days after he took over from Liam Rosenior, who was dismissed after a brief tenure of 106 days.
The decisive goal was scored by Enzo Fernández, who netted a header from a cross by Pedro Neto, securing Chelsea’s place in the final against Manchester City on May 16.
Following a string of seven defeats in eight matches under Rosenior, McFarlane emphasized that the victory at Wembley was paramount.
“Relief is the right word,” McFarlane stated. “We had confidence heading into the game and enjoyed three productive days of training, but you can never be certain of the outcome.”
“We aimed to change the momentum; though our form has been poor, the character displayed was the most rewarding aspect.”
“The players showed their determination to win an incredibly important match for the club.”
McFarlane previously served as interim coach for two matches in January when Chelsea had a draw against City and suffered a defeat against Fulham between the sacking of Enzo Maresca and the hiring of Rosenior.
He mentioned that this earlier experience helped him adapt to the role again.
“Having done it for a week before, I was somewhat familiar with what to expect,” he acknowledged. “This time is easier because I’ve built a rapport with the players after working with them for several months.”
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“Having been part of the backroom staff, I have a sense of what they needed mentally. It has been intense.”
As Chelsea prepares for the final against City, they will be seen as underdogs against Guardiola’s squad, who are chasing a domestic treble. Nevertheless, McFarlane noted that Chelsea has a track record of stepping up in critical moments, citing their victory over Champions League winners Paris Saint-Germain to win the FIFA Club World Cup last summer as evidence.
“You can formulate a plan, but they [City] are a remarkable team in excellent form,” he remarked.
“It’s going to be a significant challenge. However, we tend to elevate our performance levels, as demonstrated against PSG in the Club World Cup. What matters most is our character.”