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The full transcript from Calum McFarlane, who took Chelsea's pre-Manchester City press conference this afternoon following the departure of Enzo Maresca yesterday
Calum McFarlane has just finished his press conference ahead of Chelsea's pre-match press conference this afternoon.
McFarlane, who is the head coach of the Blues' Under-21s team, is set to take charge of the senior side when they travel to Manchester City on Sunday afternoon. Following the departure of Enzo Maresca on New Year's Day, McFarlane was tasked with facing the media on Friday afternoon - and here is every word he had to say:
I bet you didn't imagine you'd be sitting here on a Friday afternoon, did you? Can you talk us through the last 24 hours in your life?
[You're] probably the 50th person that said that to me, maybe. But yes, it's been a crazy 24 hours. A whirlwind, as you can imagine. But also really enjoyable and really exciting. I can only feel positive about it. It's an amazing experience.
Did you know Enzo? Have you spoken to him? Did you have any sort of relationship with him?
Yes, the traditional relationship that you have as a 21s coach with a first team manager. Obviously, a lot of our players go across and train with the first team. They were really good and really interested in how some of our younger boys are doing. Obviously, he gave a lot of debuts. Other than that, a professional relationship in terms of a 21s manager and a first team coach.
When you took training, in the nicest possible way, did you almost have to say, 'Hi, I'm Calum, this is my job, I'm going to be your manager for the next few days.'?
Yes, I think there's a really good culture at the club in terms of their support from the first team, from the directors. Everyone seems interested. When we've had big youth league games in the Youth Champions League, the first team players are coming across and watching. There's obviously a bit of an academy presence there as well. I met with a few of the individuals beforehand, but I was officially introduced this morning.
Did your pass let you in?
It did, yes. It got changed to let me in. In all honesty, it's exactly the same as wherever you work. We're all in it for the same reason. We all love football and we're here to support them. Training was really good today. There was a really good energy. The lads have been brilliant. The staff at the club have been brilliant. You can't ask for any more.
In terms of the players, playing for Chelsea, they're well used to what goes on and the numbers of managers that are in or out. But how are they? Is there good energy?
You don't know what to expect really, but the energy, enthusiasm and training was exceptional today. They seem really focused. They're really driven and hungry. They know we've got a massive game on Sunday and we're going to have to be at our best. You can feel that. They're professionals. They've done this a long time. They've been here before. Reece [James] has been brilliant. He's been a real leader in the group and supported the staff and the players. You can't ask for any more. It just seems like a real focus for getting the best performance we can on Sunday.
How does it feel coming up against Pep Guardiola in your first senior game?
Ultimately, it's a football match. It's not really about me or my first game or playing against Pep. It's about Chelsea versus City. Two top sides. We'll go there and compete. We've seen this year how this team can do in big moments. We're really looking forward to that challenge.
How is Marc Cucurella? He was out on the pitch...
Yeah, that is positive. We're undecided on that so I don't really have the full information on that as of yet. I'm sure it will come out in the next couple of days.
Any other updates?
No, sorry.
Obviously, a lot needs to be resolved but what are the short-term priorities right now? What are you going to be saying to both players before they go out and get in City?
It's always awkward when an interim comes in and it's more for them than it is for us. It's about them producing the level of performance that they've done before against top sides. We've had some top results this year and we know what this side is capable of. My message to them is bringing the best version of themselves and being all in it together and believing that we can get the next couple of days right and hopefully put in a good performance on Sunday.
Have you had a chat with the owners? Have they said anything to you?
Yeah, I spoke to the directors and the owners and like I said, they've been really supportive. They've given us everything we need to be successful and nothing more we can ask for. They've been fully on board and we're all in it together.
Can I just ask you who's going to be with you on Sunday? Who will be in your coaching group?
From the Under-21 staff we have myself, Andy Ross and James Simmodns who are my assistants with the Under-21s. We also have Adam Keith, who's the analyst with the Under-21s as well. Bernardo [Cueva] is still here, the set-piece coach. That will be the main part of our technical team for Sunday.
How difficult is it going to be picking a team?
It's difficult to pick any team at any moment. It's probably the hardest part of the job even on the Under-21s level. You're going to disappoint people, you're going to leave people out but you've got to do what feels best in that moment. We'll obviously be speaking to the medical team. Obviously that's coming back from injuries we have to manage like you do at any club at any level. It's all pretty routine in that but we'll pick the best team that we feel like is ready to play that game and compete.
What are your emotions at the moment? Is it excitement or is this a bit daunting?
I mean it's understandable that it would be pretty daunting. I'm quite relaxed about it if I'm honest. I'm sure as I get closer to the game it will become maybe more nerve-wracking, more daunting but I haven't worked at this level before of course but I think the lads and like I said the lads today were brilliant and it fills you with confidence that we're all in it together and it's a team effort.
And we spoke about you going to Manchester City, you obviously used to work at Manchester City. Do you know Pep?
No.
Andy Warhol once spoke about everyone having 15 minutes of fame. How are you enjoying your 15 minutes of fame and how will you deal with the nerves come Sunday?
It doesn't feel any different. I don't feel famous or other than a few other text messages that we'd usually get but it honestly doesn't feel any different. I'm just focused on coming in every day, preparing the team as best we can for a positive result but it obviously doesn't feel any different.
Is this a one-off or will you be going into next week as well? Have you been told yet just Sunday or have you been told do it until somebody comes in?
The brief is to prepare the lads for Manchester City on Sunday and that's honestly all I know at this moment in time.
Is this a good chance to showcase to millions of people around the world rather than a couple of hundred watching an under-21 game what you can do?
No, I honestly don't see it like that. The team needs to be prepared and ready for the game on Sunday and our job as a staff is to give them the best opportunity to perform in that arena, in that environment. It's not about us as a staff. I know that's the narrative but it's not. It's about giving the players the support they need to go and execute the performance.
Most managers up against Pep Guardiola are underdogs. Have you got absolutely nothing to lose on Sunday?
I think that we know we're up against a really good team in really good form, a great manager. But we've got a really good team, we've got a really good, talented group of players. So I wouldn't say we have nothing to lose. We're going to go there and try and give a really good account of ourselves and put in a performance like we've seen from this team previously. So I wouldn't say we have nothing to lose.
Have any of the players been asking questions about what's been happening over the last few days?
Yeah, it's a good question but probably not to me in the fact of the short space of time that I've worked with them. All my communication and relationships with the players have been around what training is going to look like today, what the next couple of days might look like, what Sunday might look like. So in terms of being a picture, I'm probably not the person that they'd be asking those questions.
Enzo would talk a lot about how many videos he'd watch of the opposition ahead of a game. Have you had a chance to even start watching Man City or has it just been two?
No, of course. We found out at lunchtime yesterday. So we had the whole of yesterday to get our heads around how they've been playing and what their games have looked like and quite lucky that they played last night as well so we got to watch that game. So now I think we've had a chance to have a look and put some ideas together.
With Enzo going, the owners have faced a bit of criticism about the way the club is run. I just wondered from your perspective, what are they like to work for?
Like I said earlier, we've had a lot of really good support in the last 24 hours or so and the plan is moving forward. So my six months at the club, I can only speak positively about the plans, the project and how well it's come across in the academy and the amount of opportunities the young lads are getting, which is, as a 21s coach, probably the most important thing for me. So I can only speak positively in all honesty.
It's been reported that Enzo had a few issues internally. Did you see any of that in your role or was that separate?
We're in a different building, we're on the other side. So my job is just to coach the other 21s players to the best of our ability and hopefully get them opportunities in the first team.
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