- 21 hours ago
Chelsea interim manager Calum Macfarlane on Liam Rosenior’s sacking and their FA Cup Semi-final with Leeds at Wembley on Sunday
Cobham, London, UK
Cobham, London, UK
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00:27Good afternoon and thank you for joining us.
00:30Today we have Callum McFarlane to preview our FA Cup semi-final on Sunday.
00:36We will begin in the usual way with Gail Davis and Sky Sports News.
00:40Off you go Gail.
00:41Hi Callum, there you are again, here we go again.
00:46Slightly different circumstances for you this time.
00:49Because this time you've come from having a front row seat of what's gone on in the last few months.
00:58So, in your mind, what's gone wrong and how are you going to fix that?
01:05How is this team actually going to look any different under you?
01:09It's not my place to say what's gone wrong or what's gone wrong or what's gone right.
01:14My full focus is on Leeds.
01:16I've got a massive, massive game on Sunday.
01:18So, all I am thinking about is Leeds as a team, weaknesses, strengths, our strengths, our weaknesses and how we're
01:25going to prepare for that game.
01:26That's literally my focus.
01:28You say that you don't want to dwell on what's gone wrong.
01:31But you're part of that coaching set up where things have gone wrong.
01:35And unless you know what they are, how do you put them right?
01:38I didn't say I don't know what they are.
01:40I said I'm not going to discuss them today.
01:41And all our focus is on is improving the team performance for Leeds United.
01:46When you had the job last time, you talked about the respect you immediately got from those players,
01:53having come up from working in other parts of Chelsea.
01:56This time you have been in and amongst them and there's clearly a disconnect between what's gone on with the
02:04players and the manager before.
02:05So, have you had to have a clear-the-air meeting?
02:09Have you drawn a line under it?
02:11What have you said to them about the past, where you are now and what you hope for for the
02:15rest of the season?
02:16We haven't had a clear-the-air meeting.
02:18We have got the group focus for Sunday, spoken about the game plan and how we're going to approach the
02:23game,
02:23both in and out of possession.
02:25And it's really important that we have a real, real focus for the game on Sunday.
02:29We can't be thinking about anything else.
02:31What's gone on in the past doesn't need to be spoken about.
02:33It's just everything geared towards Sunday.
02:36You say that, but when the level of performance was what it was against Brighton,
02:42when you know better than most what those players are capable of, when you know what you saw,
02:47is there anything within that that needs addressing to lift the mood?
02:51Yeah, we definitely need to improve the performance.
02:53The performance against Brighton wasn't good enough, we know that.
02:57And it's about trying to figure out the reasons why from a technical and tactical perspective
03:01and make sure that the group are in a better place to execute the game plan on Sunday.
03:06Technical and tactical is one thing, the mentality of these players and playing at the level that we know they
03:15can
03:15is something completely different.
03:17How big a part has that player over the past few weeks, that mentality of playing for the club and
03:23the manager?
03:24Yeah, there isn't any, I'm not saying technical or tactical is more important than physical, psychological,
03:31whatever you want to call it, they're all important and we need to make sure we're right in every area
03:35for the game on Sunday, playing a really good side and we need to be at our best to beat
03:39them.
03:40Have you spoken to Liam?
03:42I spoke to Liam, yeah.
03:42Did you? And did he have a chance to say goodbye to the players?
03:46Because obviously it was a day off, wasn't it, on Wednesday when the club parted company with him?
03:51Yeah, I'm not sure how he's done that or how that's been done.
03:53I spoke to him on the phone on Wednesday, it must have been, I think it was.
03:58How was he?
04:00Yeah, he was good. It was a good conversation.
04:02I've got a lot of respect for Liam.
04:04I didn't know him before he came to the club and he welcomed me in brilliantly and made me a
04:08part of his staff.
04:09So I have a really good relationship with Liam and I'm gutted that it hasn't worked out.
04:13And I just wondered, you know, is Man City away last time before?
04:18It wasn't, it's Wembley this time, huge game for the club.
04:22Have you got many previous visits to Wembley?
04:26You've been there, you've coached in some sort of other capacity there?
04:30No, I haven't coached at Wembley.
04:32I've been to Wembley, I was at Southampton when we got to the playoff final,
04:35so that was probably the most recent time I was at Wembley.
04:38And how much are you looking forward then?
04:40To what lies away on Sunday?
04:43I mean, we talked about how incredible it was,
04:46the Man City away and taking on Pep.
04:48I mean, this is a huge game, isn't it?
04:51Yeah, everyone's excited.
04:52The whole group, the whole club, it's a massive game.
04:54Great opportunity to get to an FA Cup final.
04:56It's why you do the job we do.
04:58So, yeah, we're all really excited and looking forward to the game.
05:01Thanks, Gail.
05:02John?
05:04What did you make of the performance on Tuesday night?
05:07Because it looked like the players weren't playing for the manager or the coaching staff,
05:12which has to be a concern, isn't it?
05:15Yeah, the performance wasn't good enough.
05:17Everyone associated with the club knows that.
05:18The players know that.
05:22And I thought Brighton were very good on the night and I don't think they've got enough credit.
05:25I think they're in a really good place.
05:26They're a really good side with a really good manager.
05:28But, yeah, our performance wasn't good enough and we're going to address that on Sunday
05:31and make sure that we perform to our level that we know that this group's capable of.
05:36Is that a fair assumption that the players weren't playing for the management?
05:40And if that is the case, how do you turn that around with approval?
05:45Yeah, who's to say?
05:46Like, it's not anything I would comment on.
05:49What's the biggest challenge you think you've got now?
05:54Making sure that the lads are prepared for the strengths of Leeds
05:58and making sure we're ready to expose the weaknesses.
06:00And there's still a lot of belief in this group.
06:03This group's had, I know it's been tough recently,
06:06but we've had some good games this year, good performances against top sides in recent history.
06:10So there's a lot of talent.
06:11Some of those players in there are some of the best players in the world for their position.
06:14So there's still a belief within us.
06:17We can turn this around and get our season back on track.
06:20It's one of the hardest things getting everybody on board and believing in you
06:23and what you're saying and your philosophy.
06:27No, I have a really good relationship with the players.
06:30Our process will be the same as when I did interim before
06:33and I work the way I know how to work.
06:36And everyone's on board and we're ready for Sunday.
06:38How will it be different from what Ian did?
06:40Will we see a difference in the way you want to play or will it be pretty similar?
06:45I don't think I'm going to talk tactically today.
06:47I'll keep that private, but we're ready for Sunday.
06:52Thanks, John.
06:53Simon?
06:54Hey, Colin.
06:56This is the dressing room United,
06:58because we talk a lot about issues with Liam,
07:01but is the group United together?
07:03Because obviously some players seem to be quite vocal
07:07and others perhaps were more focused on Chelsea
07:11and getting the best out of the season.
07:13Yeah, we've spoken to the group about the remaining games
07:17and what's still to play for.
07:18And from my perspective, the whole group are united
07:22in the fact that we want to try and win every single game
07:25from now to the end of the year.
07:26Make it as simple as that and we start that on Sunday.
07:28So, again, the same thing I'm saying to you guys
07:30is what I'm saying to the players.
07:32Let's just get the next three days right.
07:33Let's make sure we're ready for Leeds
07:35and make sure we're performing well against Leeds
07:36and we'll go day by day on that.
07:39Do they have to inevitably take responsibility as well
07:42for what's happened?
07:43And this is the chance for them to...
07:45For them, they've got to provide an answer
07:48and prove themselves.
07:50What's happened, sorry?
07:51As in the Liam going, you know,
07:53they've got to take their share of responsibility
07:54and then they've got to own Chelsea
07:57for what's happened as well.
07:58Yeah, of course.
07:59They're on the pitch.
08:01They're top players that can perform
08:02at a really high level
08:03and that hasn't happened for whatever reason.
08:06They'll take their responsibility in that, of course,
08:09but you've got to adapt, you've got to move on.
08:12You've got to be ready for the next challenge
08:13and the next challenge is Leeds.
08:15Thanks, Simon.
08:15Can I just quickly ask about team news?
08:18There's got a few injuries.
08:20Esteval, his pole back,
08:22his run Pedro back.
08:23Any sort of guidance on the players?
08:25Yeah, Esteval, unfortunately,
08:28won't play for us this season.
08:30He's going to be out for a little bit of time.
08:32So that's really unfortunate,
08:35especially for someone so young
08:36and so talented.
08:38But we're here to support him
08:39and be around him.
08:41Jo and Cole, they trained.
08:44They're in a good place.
08:45We don't know yet,
08:46so we've got another day tomorrow
08:48where we'll have a look at them
08:49and make a call after that.
08:51Thanks, Simon.
08:52Carrie?
08:53Hello.
08:54Just following up to that,
08:55you say it's a bit of a close call
08:57on Jo and Co and Cole.
08:59How,
09:00any chance that five of them
09:01are ready to start
09:03rather than just come off
09:04from the bench to it?
09:05Yeah, we hope so.
09:06Yeah, they're going to train tomorrow
09:07and we'll make a call after that.
09:09So, yeah, we're hopeful.
09:10So one or two of them
09:11pushing for a start?
09:13Yeah.
09:14That's great.
09:14With the rest of our,
09:16is there a chance
09:17that you can make the World Cup
09:18or is there a reason
09:19that that's going to be
09:21too soon for you?
09:23I'm not sure on that,
09:24if I'm honest.
09:24I just know that
09:25he won't be available for us,
09:27so I'm sure he's very hopeful
09:28he can make the World Cup,
09:29but I don't know on that.
09:30This is an historical rematch
09:33of the 1970 FA Cup final.
09:35Your experience going to Wembley
09:38with Southampton.
09:39What can you take from that experience?
09:40Have you spoken to any other coaches
09:43about leading Chelsea out to Wembley
09:45where they've had great success
09:46in the past,
09:47but recently just come
09:49under the last hurdle?
09:50Yeah, Leeds and Chelsea
09:52is always a big game.
09:53There's a rivalry there
09:54for various reasons.
09:56I haven't spoke to anyone
09:57about what it's like
09:58to lead a team out in Wembley.
10:00For me,
10:00it's just a game of football.
10:01It's 11 v 11
10:02and you try and make it,
10:04just like last time,
10:04you try and make it
10:05as normal as possible
10:06and stick to your
10:07day-to-day processes
10:08to hopefully get
10:09the best performance and result.
10:10I know you say
10:11don't give too many tactics away,
10:12but we saw a really fluid attack
10:15that you experimented with
10:16in your spell over two matches.
10:18Is that something
10:19that you enjoyed implementing
10:21and could look to again this weekend?
10:24Yeah, we want to take control
10:25of the game.
10:25We want to play our game.
10:26We want to play the game
10:27that suits the players
10:28in our group the best.
10:29So, yeah,
10:31we want to be aggressive
10:31and attack the game.
10:33Gal, Pedro,
10:33Cole and Palmer,
10:34such important leaders
10:35on the pitch.
10:37I'm wondering if Cole's not there
10:39and he goes to penalties
10:40as it has so often
10:41with Leeds United's recent games.
10:43Who would be the first leader
10:45to step up and take the penalty?
10:47I'm not sure on that one.
10:50Thanks, Carrie.
10:51And we'll finish this section
10:51with Rob.
10:53This is going to be
10:54a very different job
10:55probably for you
10:56to when you did it
10:57back in January.
10:58and what's at stake
11:00on the pitch
11:01between now and the end
11:02of the season.
11:03How prepared are you
11:04personally for what's
11:06been asked of you?
11:07Because obviously
11:07you've had a lot more time
11:08around the first-field squad now.
11:10Do you feel better equipped
11:11than it was all a bit of a whirl
11:13in January?
11:15Yeah, it's still a whirl
11:16when what happens happens.
11:17No one expected that to happen.
11:19But I think you made a valid point.
11:21I've worked with the group
11:22for three, four months now.
11:25I've got relationships
11:26with the players.
11:27I've got a better understanding
11:28of where they're at
11:28mentally and psychologically.
11:30So it's a very different task.
11:34The learning obviously
11:35brought you into
11:35the first team set-up.
11:37Have you been given
11:38any indication
11:39of what's going to happen
11:40to you
11:40and maybe some of the other
11:41back who's sat
11:42beyond the end of this season?
11:44All I've been made aware of
11:46is that I'll take the team
11:47on an interim basis
11:49until now
11:49to the end of the season.
11:51Beyond that,
11:52I'm not sure.
11:53Like I said,
11:54we're just focused
11:55on day-to-day
11:55and game-to-game.
11:57Okay.
11:57Thanks, Rob.
11:58And thank you, everyone.
11:59Camera's off.
11:59I'm not sure.
12:00I'm not sure.
12:00I'm not sure.
12:00I'm not sure.
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