Calum McFarlane will be aiming to impress his in-laws when his Chelsea side face Manchester City in the FA Cup final at Wembley on Saturday. The interim head coach's partner's family are long-standing Blues season ticket holders and will be present for the showpiece match.
Victory would provide a late salvage for a difficult campaign, with Chelsea facing the prospect of no European football next season if they fail to overcome City. McFarlane acknowledged the significance, saying his girlfriend's family are "massive Chelsea fans" and that her father and uncles have held season tickets for 50 years.
The 38-year-old's rise has been rapid, having been in charge of Southampton's under-21 side just a year ago. Saturday's final will be only his sixth match in senior management, with his sole victory so far coming in the semi-final win over Leeds United. He was installed until the end of the season after Liam Rosenior was sacked in April following just three months in the job.
McFarlane admitted the occasion will be emotional but stressed he will try to keep things as normal as possible. "I'll try and stay as level as possible. The players, the process, the way we work will be the same," he said. "I'm sure I'll feel a lot of emotions on that day."
Results have been mixed under temporary charge, with an initial 3-1 home defeat to Nottingham Forest extending a run of five consecutive league losses. However, the semi-final win over Leeds and a comeback draw at Liverpool have offered encouragement. McFarlane praised the squad's response and professionalism, adding that he values dialogue with experienced players who have featured in major matches.
