Chelsea made to sweat over Cole Palmer as honest admission made after Liam Rosenior departure

Calum McFarlane is preparing for his third match this season as interim Chelsea head coach as the Blues take on their historic rivals Leeds United at Wembley on Sunday afternoon

Last time Calum McFarlane was asked to become Chelsea's interim head coach, he was on his way to a light show with his family.

But this time around, he didn’t need to bolt away to rush to the club's Cobham training base - he was sitting at home when he was told he will replace Liam Rosenior until the end of the season.

Back in January, McFarlane was given the role of interim head coach at Chelsea following Enzo Maresca's dramatic departure on New Year's Day. The 40-year-old, who was previously head coach of the Under-21s side for just a few months, managed the Blues for two Premier League matches - drawing away at Manchester City before losing to Fulham, with Rosenior sitting in the stands at Craven Cottage.

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Rosenior, though, lasted just three-and-a-half months - bringing an abrupt end to his six-and-a-half-year contract - after Chelsea sacked the former Brighton defender following seven defeats in their last eight matches. McFarlane, who was promoted to become part of Rosenior's coaching staff at Stamford Bridge, will now see out the remainder of the season as interim boss.

Bringing control back to Chelsea's game is one of McFarlane's main aims, and attacking football to help end the Blues' dire spell in front of goal. Chelsea have not scored a goal in their last five (and a bit) Premier League games - the equivalent of nearly eight hours.

"We want to attack the game," said McFarlane. "We want to be aggressive in every phase of it. We want to have complete control of it and ultimately win the game.

"I think that's the best way to win games of football. I think that's the best way for this team to win games of football. But there's also an opponent who wants to do the same. So you have to be better than them in every area. That will be the challenge on Sunday."

Their opponent is Leeds United, a long-time fierce rival of the Blues. A rivalry that stretches back to the 1970 FA Cup final replay - an encounter so fiercely contested that in 2000, referee Michael Oliver said he would have dished out 11 red cards if he was in charge.

This time around, it's a semi-final at Wembley, with both teams going to battle for a place in the final. Despite all of Chelsea's problems in recent weeks, McFarlane seemed confident his players will stand up and be counted at the Home of Football on Sunday, despite criticism of the squad’s attitude from Rosenior in his final press conference as Blues head coach.

"Like I said, everything has been done that we possibly can [to prepare for Leeds], working really hard to ensure that the lads are as best prepared as they can be, for what Leeds are going to throw at us," McFarlane said. "We know what we have to stand up to.

"They are a really good side that can cause you a lot of problems. We know the challenge we face. I believe the players will be motivated to get to the FA Cup final."

Cole Palmer (hamstring) and Joao Pedro (thigh) both missed the defeat in Brighton and will face late fitness tests ahead of the trip to Wembley, while Estevao Willian (hamstring) will miss the remainder of the season.