Chelsea Boss McFarlane: FA Cup Can Salvage Turbulent Season

McFarlane tells Chelsea to end season on a high in FA Cup final

McFarlane, in his second spell as interim manager, led Chelsea past Leeds at Wembley and drew with City in January.

Chelsea are also linked with Xabi Alonso as they search for a permanent replacement for Liam Rosenior...

Chelsea’s interim manager Calum McFarlane has called on his players to turn a difficult season around by beating Manchester City in Saturday’s FA Cup final.

The Blues haven’t won in seven Premier League matches and sit ninth, with Champions League qualification effectively out of reach.

McFarlane is managing the side for the second time this season. He stepped up from the U21s in January after Enzo Maresca left, then took over again in April following Liam Rosenior’s exit.

Chelsea lost FA Cup finals in 2020, 2021, and 2022, and haven’t lifted the trophy since beating Manchester United in 2018. That remains their last domestic silverware.

For McFarlane, winning on Saturday would go some way to making up for what’s been a frustrating campaign.

“Our recent form in the league has been way below the standard we'd expect and that we'd shown previously. It's an FA Cup final, so we want to win it,” he told reporters on Thursday.

“It's a massive competition. When you're at a club of this magnitude, and like you've mentioned, the history that this club has got in this competition and winning silverware, there's always pressure.

“There's pressure to win every game. You have to accept that and embrace that.”

McFarlane hasn’t managed full-time yet, and he admits this weekend at Wembley will bring a mix of emotions.

“I have managed a few games at this level; not of this magnitude, of course, but I will try and stay as level as possible, and the process will stay the same,” he said.

The 40-year-old may be short on top-level experience, but he guided Chelsea past Leeds in the semi-final at Wembley and held his own against Pep Guardiola’s City in a 1-1 league draw back in January.

Chelsea were beaten 3-0 at home by City in April, and haven’t beaten Guardiola’s side in 13 meetings since their 2021 Champions League final win.

“They've got the belief they can beat anyone. We just know that we have to be the best version of ourselves. They're an exceptional side, with an exceptional coach and exceptional players,” McFarlane said.

“They're going to be a challenge, but we also have some really good players. These players have shown that if they're at their best, they can beat anyone.”

📌 Cobham. pic.twitter.com/mss2RDBEiO

— Chelsea FC (@ChelseaFC) May 14, 2026

Chelsea are still looking for a permanent successor to Rosenior, and former Real Madrid and Bayer Leverkusen manager Xabi Alonso has been heavily linked with the job.

Asked about Alonso, McFarlane said: “There's a lot of names linked with the job.

“It's not really my place to say who should get it, or who's a good manager, who's not a good manager.”

Up next: The FA Cup final! 🏆 pic.twitter.com/mPTkPJAsqE

— Chelsea FC (@ChelseaFC) May 12, 2026