‘A wild 24 hours!’ Interim Chelsea chief Calum McFarlane discusses Maresca exit amid rising Rosenior rumors
Chelsea’s interim coach Calum McFarlane acknowledged that the past 24 hours have been “wild” and a “whirlwind,” but asserts that the players will be prepared for their match against Manchester City on Sunday, just three days following the exit of former manager Enzo Maresca from the club.
McFarlane, who leads the Blues’ Under-21 squad, is poised to take the helm of the first team for the journey to the Etihad after Maresca’s departure on New Year’s Day. This exit was partly attributed to a breakdown in the relationship with the club’s leadership.
French publication L’Equipe reports that Chelsea is nearing a deal with Strasbourg head coach Liam Rosenior, but for the upcoming clash with Pep Guardiola’s squad, who recently played to a scoreless draw against Sunderland on Thursday, it will be 40-year-old McFarlane at the helm.
“It’s been a wild 24 hours,” remarked McFarlane, who has yet to manage a senior professional match.
“A whirlwind, as you might imagine. But also quite enjoyable and very thrilling. I can only remain optimistic about it. It’s an incredible experience.
“I’m fairly relaxed about this, to be honest. I expect as I approach the game, it could become more nerve-wracking and daunting. However, I haven’t operated at this level before, and the lads today were fantastic, which gives me confidence that we’re in this together and it’s a collective effort.”
McFarlane expressed that he could solely “speak positively” regarding Chelsea’s ownership, Todd Boehly and Clearlake Capital, who have faced criticism for their management of the club, and mentioned that the players stay concentrated on the task ahead this weekend.
“They (the players) seem really committed. They’re very motivated and eager. They understand that we have a crucial match on Sunday, and we will need to perform at our best. You can sense that.
“It’s always a bit uncomfortable when an interim coach takes over, and it’s more challenging for them than for us. The focus should be on them delivering the level of performance they’ve showcased previously against elite teams.
“We’ve had several excellent results this season and are aware of what this team is capable of. My message to them is to bring their very best selves, be unified, and trust that we can make the next couple of days count and aim for a strong performance on Sunday.”
Published: 2026-01-02 20:12:00
source: www.101greatgoals.com
