Chelsea were due to face Leeds United in the FA Cup semi-final at Wembley on Sunday, and interim head coach Calum McFarlane, appointed on Wednesday night, addressed reporters at Cobham on Friday afternoon ahead of the tie.
McFarlane, the 40-year-old brought in this week, acknowledged the fixture’s weight: "Leeds vs Chelsea is always a big game," he said, adding plainly, "For me, it's just a game of football." His message mixed history with pragmatism: "There's a rivalry there for various reasons," he said, but insisted, "It's 11 v 11 and you try and make it."
The match arrives with Chelsea struggling for form. The club had lost and failed to score in each of their previous three games across all competitions before the semi-final, a run McFarlane must halt if his brief is to be judged a success. He was clear on how he wants to change the mood: "We want to take control of the game," he said. "We want to play our game."
Local outlet Football London published a likely Chelsea selection ahead of the tie, naming Robert Sanchez in goal, Malo Gusto at right-back, Trevoh Chalobah and Jorrel Hato as central defenders, and Marc Cucurella at left-back. The midfield pair listed were Andrey Santos and Moises Caicedo, with Enzo Fernandez at No.10. The attack they suggested featured Cole Palmer on the right wing if fit enough, Pedro Neto on the left, and Joao Pedro in the starting lineup if fit.
Twenty-year-old Jorrel Hato, who has started each of Chelsea's four FA Cup games this season and scored twice on the route to the semi-finals, spoke of the occasion in simple terms: "I’m very excited. It’s something you dream of, and it's a dream coming true," he said, adding, "Of course, it gives us a chance to win a prize this season." He stressed the crowd's role — "The fans will be very important, of course," — and referenced the fixture's history, a tie that evokes memories of the 1970 final at Wembley.
McFarlane returned repeatedly to routine and process in his briefing. "Just like last time, you try and make it as normal as possible and stick to your day-to-day processes to hopefully get the best performance and result," he said, while also promising intent: "We want to be aggressive and attack the game." He underlined selection thinking would reflect what suits the squad: "We want to play the game that suits the players in our group the best."
The tension is clear: Chelsea's FA Cup run has relied on Hato’s contributions and consistent cup selections, but the senior team's three-game scoreless stretch is a blunt counterpoint to that form. McFarlane's arrival and his repeated calls for control and aggression set a straightforward test for Sunday — can the interim coach both steady a struggling side and spark the attack Chelsea need at Wembley?
If the facts are any guide, McFarlane will hand the ball to the players who have gotten Chelsea this far and ask them to play with urgency. For Hato, the 20-year-old, the game is personal: "It would mean a lot," he said, and Chelsea's run to the final will depend on whether that urgency translates into goals when the teams meet at Wembley.
