McFarlane takes charge at Chelsea, discusses preparations to face City | OneFootball

Calum McFarlane has temporarily taken charge of Chelsea and gave an interview this Friday ahead of the Premier League debut in 2026. The under-21 coach was called up after Enzo Maresca's departure on January 1st and will face his first challenge against Manchester City, away, this Sunday.

See also: All the news from Gazeta Esportiva Gazeta Esportiva's YouTube Channel Follow Gazeta Esportiva on Instagram

“It’s been crazy in the last 24 hours, but I’m excited. My focus is to prepare the team for the game against City,” stated McFarlane, highlighting that the team will aim for a good result against the runner-up and Pep Guardiola. “We have good players and we will go in with a positive mindset.”

The coach also commented on the situation of Marc Cucurella, who missed the draw with Bournemouth. The Spaniard has returned to training and will be assessed before the match, but there is still no confirmation about his presence.

With no other news in the squad, McFarlane reinforced his confidence in the group to start the year strong. “They are focused and know it will be a big game. We will give our best,” he concluded.

Successor to Maresca

Maresca ended an 18-month tenure marked by a return to the Champions League and titles in the Conference League and the Club World Cup. Chelsea's management is seeking a permanent replacement.

The main candidate is Liam Rosenior, coach of Strasbourg, a French club owned by the BlueCo group. Despite his lack of experience in the Premier League, he emerges as the favorite to take the position.

This article was translated into English by Artificial Intelligence. You can read the original version in 🇧🇷 here.