Calum McFarlane said Chelsea go into the FA Cup final against Manchester City on Saturday at 15:00 BST feeling optimistic after a week of encouraging training from several first-team players.
The immediate question for McFarlane is selection: Chelsea drew 1-1 at Liverpool last weekend and now have a chance on Saturday at Wembley to add to their eight previous FA Cup wins, a trophy the club last lifted in 2018. It will be the first FA Cup final between Chelsea and Manchester City.
McFarlane, who oversaw Chelsea's semi-final victory over Leeds United, described the mood in the camp as upbeat after meetings and training this week. On the goalkeeper situation he was cautious but positive, saying: "It's the same news on Robert Sanchez as the other lads. Really positive, and we are really hopeful looking in to Saturday." Sanchez sustained a head injury in Chelsea's Premier League clash with Forest at the start of this month, but McFarlane reported encouraging signs.
The full-back question is sharper: Reece James returned to action last weekend after a hamstring issue and, according to McFarlane, is passing his fitness checks. "He's trained well this week; we’re happy with Reece," the coach said, underlining that James is now in contention to feature against Manchester City.
McFarlane set out a similar story for Levi Colwill, whose rehabilitation has been handled carefully. "Levi's had a really good rehab and, before he played his first game back for us against Nottingham Forest, he played for the Under-21s on two or three occasions," he said, noting the young defender's steady return to match sharpness.
Attacking options also picked up positive mentions. "Pedro Neto and Alejandro Garnacho have trained well this week, so both looking really good. We’re really hopeful with them as well. So, positive signs," McFarlane added, listing the players who have given the staff cause for optimism ahead of a selection meeting that will determine Chelsea's matchday squad.
Those upbeat updates collide with the less tidy reality that several players have only recently returned from knocks. Sanchez's head injury at the start of the month and James's hamstring issue last weekend create a practical limit on how quickly the manager can confirm a settled eleven. Still, the number of players training — from Colwill to Garnacho and Neto — gives McFarlane more options than a single injury list would.
Discussion of chelsea f.c. vs man city lineups will now pivot on late fitness checks and a final decision from the coaching staff, with the weekend's kick-off time fixed and the stakes clear: Chelsea seek a ninth FA Cup triumph while navigating selection questions that could decide how brightly the side begins the contest against a first-time FA Cup final opponent.
If McFarlane's optimism is borne out and the players who trained this week pass their final checks, Chelsea will go to Wembley with a fuller squad than many expected — a practical advantage that could matter as much as tactics on Saturday.
