In a dramatic twist to the Premier League title race, Chelsea fought back to secure a 1-1 draw against Manchester City at the Etihad Stadium on Sunday, a result that dealt a significant blow to the home side's championship ambitions.
Late Drama Denies Guardiola's City
The match, played on Sunday 04 January 2026, was overshadowed by the sudden departure of Chelsea manager Enzo Maresca on New Year's Day. Stepping into the breach was under-21s coach Calum McFarlane, who was handed temporary control for this fixture alone.
City, seeking to close the gap on leaders Arsenal to four points, thought they had secured a crucial victory when Tijjani Reijnders scored. However, deep into stoppage time, Enzo Fernandez struck a dramatic equaliser for the Blues, rewarding a resilient performance and silencing the home crowd.
McFarlane's Praise for Chelsea's Resilience
Speaking after the final whistle, interim manager McFarlane was effusive in his praise for a squad dealing with considerable upheaval. He highlighted the leadership shown by key figures in the dressing room.
"There's a lot of change that's gone on," McFarlane said. "Enzo was incredibly successful with this group and some of them were shocked by the decision. So the character that they've shown in the last two days, and the character that they've shown today – Reece James is a big one, Tosin Adarabioyo, Enzo Fernandez, they've really dragged the group together."
He added, "Everyone thought we were coming here to lose. No-one thought we stood a chance. But we knew the character and the talent in this group and they've really dragged it through. I can't speak highly enough about the characters in the group."
Injury Woes for City and Rosenior's Imminent Arrival
For Pep Guardiola's Manchester City, the draw was a second setback in a week following a goalless stalemate at Sunderland. The result leaves them six points behind Arsenal. The match also came at a physical cost, with defenders Josko Gvardiol and Ruben Dias joining the injured John Stones on the sidelines.
Guardiola admitted his side's profligacy was costly. "We were extraordinary in all departments except we could not score the second or the third or the fourth," he said. When asked about signing a defender this month, he responded, "I don't think so but we'll see what happens."
McFarlane's tenure is expected to be brief, with Liam Rosenior, the current head coach of Chelsea's sister club Strasbourg, reportedly flying to London on Sunday. He is due to meet the Chelsea hierarchy on Monday, with a view to taking charge before Wednesday's trip to Fulham. Chelsea declined to comment on the reports.
When asked about speculation he could move to Strasbourg in a swap, McFarlane stated, "That's the first I've heard of that, I have no idea. When I first took this job I was told that I would take the Manchester City game. There's a chance that the new manager will be in on Monday."
