Every word Calum McFarlane said on Liam Rosenior sacking, Chelsea job and Estevao World Cup hopes

The full transcript from Chelsea interim head coach Calum McFarlane in his first press conference since taking the temporary job on Wednesday evening

Calum McFarlane has completed his first press conference since returning as Chelsea's interim head coach.

The 40-year-old was appointed as the temporary successor to Liam Rosenior following his departure on Wednesday evening. McFarlane will take the out-of-form Blues until the end of the season as he looks to guide the west Londoners into the FA Cup final with a victory over Leeds United on Sunday afternoon.

Our Chelsea correspondent Bobby Vincent was at Cobham in the press conference to bring you every word McFarlane had to say:

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What's gone wrong and how do you fix it?

It's not my place to say what's gone wrong or what's gone right. My full focus is on Leeds. We've got a massive, massive game on Sunday. So all I'm thinking about is Leeds as a team, weaknesses, strengths, our strengths, our weaknesses and how we're going to prepare for that game.

You say that you don't want to dwell on what's gone wrong, but you're part of that coaching set-up where things have gone wrong and unless you know what they are, how do you put them right?

I didn't say I don't know what they are, I said I'm not going to discuss them today. All our focus is on improving the team performance for Leeds United.

Have you had to have a clear-the-air meeting?

We haven't had a clear-the-air meeting. We are getting the group focused for Sunday, spoken about the game plan and how we're going to approach the game both in and out of possession. It's really important that we have a real focus for the game on Sunday. You can't be thinking about anything else. What's gone on in the past doesn't need to be spoken about. It's just everything geared towards Sunday.

You say that, but when the level of performance was what it was against Brighton, you know better than most what those players are capable of and you know what you saw. Is there anything within that that needs addressing to lift the mood?

We definitely need to improve the performance. The performance against Brighton wasn't good enough, we know that. It's about trying to figure out the reasons why from a technical and tactical perspective and make sure that the group are in a better place to execute the game plan on Sunday.

Technical and tactical is one thing, but the mentality of these players and playing at the level that we know they can is something completely different. How big a part has that played over the past few weeks, that mentality of playing for the club and the manager?

I'm not saying technical or tactical is more important than physical, psychological or whatever you want to call it. They're all important and we need to make sure we're right in every area for the game on Sunday. We're playing a really good side and we need to do our best to be there.

Have you spoken to Liam?

I spoke to Liam, yes.

Did he have a chance to say goodbye to the players?

I'm not sure how he's done that or how that's been done. I spoke to him on the phone on Wednesday, I think it was.

How was he?

He was good. It was a good conversation. I've got a lot of respect for Liam. I didn't know him before he came to the club and he welcomed me in brilliantly and made me a part of his staff. I have a really good relationship with Liam and I'm gutted that it hasn't worked out.

Huge game for the club. Have you got many previous visits to Wembley? Have you been there? Have you coached him in some sort of other capacity there?

I haven't coached at Wembley. I've been to Wembley. I was at Southampton when we got to the play-off final. That was probably the most recent time I was at Wembley.

How much are you looking forward to what lies ahead on Sunday?

Yeah, everyone's excited. The whole group, the whole club. It's a massive game, a great opportunity to get to an FA Cup final. It's why you do the job you do. We're all really excited and looking forward to the game.

What did you make of the performance on Tuesday night? Because it looked like the players weren't playing for the manager or the coaching staff, which has to be a concern, doesn't it?

Yeah, the performance wasn't good enough. Everyone associated with the club knows that, the players know that. I thought Brighton were very good on the night. I don't think they've got enough credit. I think they're in a really good place. They're a really good side with a really good manager. Our performance wasn't good enough and we're going to address that on Sunday and make sure that we perform to our level.

Is that a fair assumption, that the players weren't playing for the manager?

Who's to say? That's not something I'll comment on.

What's the biggest challenge you think you've got now?

Making sure that the lads are prepared for the strengths of Leeds and making sure we're ready to expose the weaknesses. There's still a lot of belief in this group. I know it's been tough recently, but we've had some good games this year, good performances against top sides in recent history. There's a lot of talent. Some of those players in there are some of the best players in the world for their position. There's still a belief within us. We can turn this around and get our season back on track.

Is one of the hardest things getting everybody on board and believing in you and what you're saying and your philosophy?

No, I have a really good relationship with the players. Our process will be the same as when I was an interim before. I'll work the way I know how to work. Everyone's on board and we're ready for Sunday.

How will it be different from what Liam did? Will we see a difference in the way you want to play or will it be pretty similar?

I don't think I'm going to talk tactically today. I'll keep that private, but we're ready for Sunday.

Is the dressing room united?

We've spoken to the group about the remaining games and what's still to play for. From my perspective, the whole group are united in the fact that we want to try and win every single game from now to the end of the year. We'll make it as simple as that and we'll start that on Sunday. Again, the same thing I'm saying to you guys is what I'm saying to the players. Let's just get the next three days right. Let's make sure we're ready for Leeds and make sure we're performing well against Leeds and we'll go day by day on that.

Do the players have to take some responsibility?

Of course, they're on the pitch. They're top players that can perform at a really high level and that hasn't happened for whatever reason. They'll take their responsibility in that, of course, but you've got to adapt. You've got to move on. You've got to be ready for the next challenge and the next challenge is Leeds.

Can I just quickly ask about team news?

Estevao [Willian], unfortunately, won't play for us this season. He's going to be out for a little bit of time. So, that's really unfortunate, especially for someone so young and so talented. But we're here to support him and be around him. Joao [Pedro] and Cole [Palmer], they trained. They're in a good place. We don't know yet. So, we've got another day tomorrow where we'll have a look at them and make a call after that.

Is there a chance Palmer and Joao Pedro will start vs Leeds?

Yeah, we hope so. They're going to train tomorrow and we'll make a call after that. So, yeah, we're hopeful.

Is there a chance Estevao will play in the World Cup?

I'm not sure on that, if I'm honest. I just know that he won't be available for us. So, I'm sure he's very hopeful he can make the World Cup. I don't know on that.

This is a historical rematch of the 1970 FA Cup final. Your experience going to Wembley with Southampton. What can you take from that experience? Have you spoken to any other coaches about leading Chelsea out to Wembley?

Yeah, Leeds vs Chelsea is always a big game. There's a rivalry there for various reasons. I haven't spoke to anyone about what it's like to lead a team out in Wembley. For me, it's just a game of football. It's 11 v 11 and you try and make it. Just like last time, you try and make it as normal as possible and stick to your day-to-day processes to hopefully get the best performance and result.

I know you said you don't want to give too many tactics away, but we saw a really fluid attack that you experimented with in your spell over two matches. Is that something that you enjoyed implementing and could look to again this weekend?

Yeah, we want to take control of the game. We want to play our game. We want to play the game that suits the players in our group the best. We want to be aggressive and attack the game.

Better prepared now than in January because of your experience and relationship with the players? Because it was all a bit of a whirlwind, wasn't it, in January?

Yeah, it's still a whirlwind when what happens happens. No-one expected that to happen, but I think you made a valid point. I've worked with the group for three or four months now. I've got relationships with the players. I've got a better understanding of where they're at mentally and psychologically, so it's a very different task.

Have you been given any indication of what's going to happen to you and maybe some of the other factors beyond the end of this season?

All I've been made aware of is that I'll take the team on an interim basis until now to the end of the season. Beyond that, I'm not sure. Like I said, we're just focused on day-to-day and game-to-game.