Chelsea at a crossroads as unlikely hero Calum McFarlane faces up to season-defining FA Cup clash | OneFootball

Interim head coach must steady a badly listing ship in the stormiest of seas - but is he up to the task?

When Calum McFarlane’s second, first press conference drew to a close on Friday, there was a little, exasperated slap of the desk from the 40-year-old, as if to say, ‘Thank goodness, we’re done here’.

McFarlane was Chelsea’s chosen man in between Enzo Maresca and Liam Rosenior and here we are all over again, in between Rosenior and whatever is being cooked up next. He wants the responsibility, yet somehow still acts as though it has been thrust upon him almost unwittingly.

Rosenior was sacked on Wednesday and it was two days before McFarlane’s first media duties, so the revelation that there had been no clear-the-air meeting with the players did come as something of a surprise.

Calum McFarlane faces the press after stepping up for his second spell as Chelsea interim boss of the year

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On another level, though, there has really been no time at all between the end of an era that barely got going under Rosenior and a match that, if lost, would confirm this has been a failure of a season for Chelsea.

A Wembley FA Cup semi-final with an in-form and almost-certainly-safe-from-the-drop Leeds evokes memories of the great cup final of 1970. It is a huge opportunity for Chelsea’s much-criticised group of inexperienced and out-of-sorts youngsters to reach a first cup final since last summer in the United States and to place themselves within touching distance of a trophy that would not heal all, but would certainly help.

McFarlane, 40 years old, without a UEFA Pro Licence but convinced he nevertheless has “the players’ respect”, is the man tasked with getting them there, with a course correction that steers them to calmer waters at this season’s end.

Calum McFarlane claims he has the respect of his players despite his relative inexperience

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“It’s not my place to say what’s gone wrong or what’s gone right” were his very first words, swiftly followed by a clarification of his wording when pressed on why, considering he’s had a pitchside view of Rosenior’s tenure as an assistant. “I didn’t say I don’t know what they are,” he added. “I said I’m not going to discuss them today.”

Someone must. It seemed fair enough, though, for McFarlane to want to focus on the Leeds game. It was fair, also, for reporters to question whether he felt a level of responsibility for Chelsea’s recent slump given his place in the dugout.

He accepted his part, promised players would be reminded of precisely what needs to improve in the days and weeks ahead, including discipline, and conceded about the Brighton game: “The performance wasn’t good enough and we’re going to address that ahead of Sunday. Our process will be the same as when I did interim before. I’ll keep tactics private — but we’re ready for Sunday.”

Calum McFarlane was a member of Liam Rosenior’s backroom staff but is now tasked with helping club transition away from his time in charge

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Joao Pedro and Cole Palmer have been out nursing hamstring injuries that kept them out against the Seagulls, but the Brazilian followed a specialised training programme on Monday and both trained towards the end of the week. The intention for both to train in full yesterday paves the way for both to return for McFarlane’s first game, all being well.

McFarlane was spiky at moments but resolute, too. “We want to attack the game, have complete control of every aspect of it,” he insisted. He spoke about the “talent” in the squad that he is counting on to get Chelsea out of their hole and into an FA Cup final and European football.

Things may not be as smooth for McFarlane second time round. His emergency caretaker spell in January lasted just two games. This will be a longer stint and will have a greater bearing not only on his own career future but also on the club’s direction. He must prove that the problems belonged to his former boss, Rosenior, not to Chelsea.