Chelsea interim Calum McFarlane issued a heartfelt thanks to his family for helping him cope with the craziest period of his career, explaining how sitting at home watching cartoons with his two-year-old son has allowed him an escape amid the chaos.
Considering the club he is bidding to lead to FA Cup glory over Manchester City at Wembley Stadium, McFarlane mentioned an on-brand favourite – Bluey – when discussing how he had tried to maintain normality during a turbulent time around Stamford Bridge.
The 38-year-old was appointed as interim in January after Enzo Maresca’s exit, and then again last month when Liam Rosenior was sacked, and is now one win from securing a major trophy after spending much of his career coaching youngsters aged 10 years old to 21.
‘I’d like to think I’ve worked hard throughout my whole career, whether it was being an Under 11s coach, whether it was being an Under 15s coach, whether it was 18s or 21s,’ McFarlane said.
‘I’ve always worked really hard to make sure I’ve given the players everything they need to be successful. It’s a bigger challenge in terms of the level. But you have to work hard in this job.
‘It’s a demanding job. It’s been such a crazy six months. It’s nice to still have that bit of normality when you go home. They (his family) have been massive and really helpful when you need to take a break, when you need to switch off from it. That’s so helpful in those moments. Going home and watching Cars with my two-year-old son, or Bluey, or whatever he likes to watch.
Calum McFarlane has endured the most unexpected six months of his career since promotion from Chelsea’s youth ranks
‘But I’ve enjoyed the challenge, the pressure and the demands. I’m just trying to do the best job I can for the club, for the fans, for the players.’
McFarlane oversaw a 1-1 Premier League draw away at City in January in what was his first time managing in a senior match. Chelsea have been studying the tactics from that clash in their preparations for this showdown at Wembley.
‘You want to do as much due diligence as you can, and be as prepared for a top side,’ McFarlane said. ‘You have to look into everything and try and get any advantage you can. We’ve watched that game back. We’ve watched loads of City games to try to prepare us for a really big challenge.’
McFarlane previously worked for City in their academy. He made the switch to Cobham last summer after a spell at Southampton coaching their Under 18s and Under 21s in between.
Moving on to what managing in an FA Cup final will mean to him, with qualification for the Europa League also awaiting Chelsea if they win, McFarlane added: ‘It’s massive, isn’t it?
‘Everyone remembers watching it in the morning, the build-up, three or four hour build-up. Being at Chelsea, you remember that Roberto Di Matteo goal, 30, 40 seconds into the game (in the 1997 FA Cup final win over Middlesbrough). For every child growing up who loves football in England, the FA Cup is massive.’
