Chelsea FC interim coach Calum McFarlane has expressed confidence that the club’s season can still be turned around, despite a difficult spell that led to the dismissal of Liam Rosenior earlier this week.
Speaking ahead of Sunday’s FA Cup semi-final clash with Leeds United, McFarlane called for calm following recent struggles at Stamford Bridge.
Chelsea head into the match after losing five consecutive Premier League games without scoring. A 3-0 defeat to Brighton & Hove Albion on Tuesday marked the end of Rosenior’s short 106-day tenure.
There was brief confusion on Friday when the club’s website mistakenly advertised Rosenior’s press conference before McFarlane addressed the media.
When asked about reports of unrest in the dressing room and whether players had stopped playing for the former manager, McFarlane declined to comment, noting that no meeting had been held to address the issue.
Despite seven losses in eight matches, he maintained an optimistic outlook, highlighting the squad’s quality and insisting there is still belief within the team to revive their campaign.
He also confirmed that young Brazilian winger Estevao Willian will miss the remainder of the season due to injury, describing the setback as unfortunate for such a promising talent.
McFarlane, who previously took charge after Enzo Maresca left earlier this year, now faces another challenge, with the FA Cup representing Chelsea’s final opportunity to secure silverware this season.