Chelsea interim supervisor Calum McFarlane after the match. Photograph: REUTERS
LONDON:
Chelsea’s interim supervisor Calum McFarlane was bursting with satisfaction after his group snatched a dramatic 1-1 Premier League draw at Manchester Metropolis on Sunday, capping a whirlwind week that noticed the membership half methods with Enzo Maresca three days earlier.
Chelsea’s under-21s head coach was thrown into the deep finish after Maresca abruptly left amid a poor run of type on New Yr’s Day, with a frightening debut awaiting McFarlane towards Metropolis.
“There’s a number of change that is gone on,” McFarlane stated. “Enzo was extremely profitable with this group. A few of (the gamers) had been shocked by the choice.
“So the character they’ve proven within the final two days, the character they’ve proven in the present day … everybody thought we had been coming right here to lose. Nobody thought we stood an opportunity, however we knew the character and the expertise on this group.”
McFarlane, who relished his position as head coach on Sunday calling it the “stuff you dream about”, isn’t positive what the rapid future holds when it comes to a brand new supervisor.
“We’re coaching tomorrow. So except I am advised in any other case this night, I will be taking that session,” he stated. “My sole focus has clearly been on this sport. Till I am advised in any other case, I will lead the group.”
McFarlane was initially advised he would take cost for the Metropolis conflict, with a brand new supervisor presumably arriving on Monday.
“Clearly, it is Sunday now,” he stated. “We have been solely centered on the sport, so I am positive I might get extra data as soon as I am out of this press convention. However for all I do know, the brand new supervisor might be in shortly, and I’ll lead the group till he is in.”
Whereas Metropolis squandered quite a few possibilities at Etihad Stadium, Chelsea grew into the sport. McFarlane was happy with Chelsea’s resilience, which paid off when Enzo Fernandez struck deep into stoppage time.
He credited captain Reece James, Tosin Adarabioyo and Fernandez for his or her management proven this week.
James echoed his coach’s satisfaction, praising the employees and senior gamers for steadying the ship.
“To come back to Manchester Metropolis away as your first first-team sport is tough,” James stated. “We needed to adapt quick.
“We’ve got to face collectively as a unit. We’re one. We missed many gamers in the present day, however so many different gamers stepped up. We fought as a group and I’m happy with the boys.”
He added on Maresca’s sudden departure: “After all, it is tough however we’ve to battle for one another. We dug in and bought the purpose.”
McFarlane stated one of many day’s highlights was teaching towards Pep Guardiola.
“It is an honour to play towards somebody like Pep Guardiola, who’s, for me, the most effective supervisor that is ever managed,” the interim boss stated. “And he was actually respectful and actually well mannered (throughout their post-game handshake). It was an honour to play towards him.”
