In a dramatic turn of events that underscores the unpredictable nature of football, Chelsea Under-21 head coach Calum McFarlane found himself thrust into the spotlight on New Year's Day. The 37-year-old was en route to the Windsor light show with his wife and children when a phone call from a club superior changed his plans entirely.
A Sudden Call to Duty
The call informed McFarlane that Enzo Maresca was no longer in charge of the first team, and Chelsea needed someone to temporarily lead the squad for their daunting Premier League trip to face Manchester City on Sunday. Naturally, the family trip to Windsor was abandoned, much to his wife's displeasure, setting McFarlane on a path to the Etihad Stadium.
Upon arriving at Cobham an hour later, McFarlane, out of habit, parked by the academy building. This time, however, he walked towards the first-team headquarters, where a new all-access security pass awaited him. His immediate task was to prepare for a clash with Pep Guardiola, a manager overseeing his 562nd game for City, while McFarlane would be managing his very first senior match.
Preparing for the Etihad Challenge
With the futures of Maresca's backroom staff, including Willy Caballero, still being finalised, a new interim team was assembled. McFarlane was joined by his U21s assistants Andy Ross and James Simmonds, academy analyst Adam Keep, and set-piece coach Bernardo Cueva, who holds a UEFA Pro Licence.
The group spent Thursday afternoon studying videos of Guardiola's side, working late into the evening and even watching City's 0-0 draw with Sunderland live. McFarlane also held discussions with co-sporting directors Paul Winstanley and Laurence Stewart, as well as co-owner Behdad Eghbali, who has been at Cobham to finalise the appointment of a permanent successor, with Strasbourg manager Liam Rosenior the current favourite.
The message from the hierarchy to McFarlane was one of full support and trust. On Friday, the first-team players returned to training after their disappointing 2-2 draw with Bournemouth. In an informal meeting, Winstanley and Stewart explained the situation to the squad, including Cole Palmer, before McFarlane and his staff were officially introduced.
Squad Support and a Coaching Journey
Led by club captain Reece James, the squad were reportedly extremely supportive of McFarlane's sudden promotion. Training ran longer than planned, after which the young coach faced the media in a packed press conference, handling his 'crazy' 24 hours with composure.
McFarlane outlined his unconventional coaching journey: 'I wanted to be a footballer, but I wasn't good enough. I started coaching really early at 16.' His path included roles at Southampton, Manchester City's academy, Norwegian side Tromso, Fulham, and Crystal Palace before joining Chelsea just six months ago.
He praised the first team's attitude, stating, 'The energy, enthusiasm and training was exceptional... Reece has been brilliant. He's been a real leader.' On his approach for the City game, McFarlane confirmed he would not rip up Maresca's philosophy due to time constraints, but would look to make tactical tweaks. This alignment is by design, as Chelsea's development teams deploy a similar style to the senior side.
The club hopes that being away together in a Manchester hotel will give McFarlane and his staff more time with the players. Marc Cucurella trained individually on Friday following a hamstring issue, while Cole Palmer is 'good to go' for the match.
Despite his previous stint at Manchester City, McFarlane does not know Guardiola personally. Yet, at full time on Sunday, he will shake the legendary manager's hand as an equal. It would be a remarkable chapter in an already extraordinary story if that handshake follows a Chelsea victory masterminded by their young academy coach.
