Rookie Coach Calum McFarlane Will Coach Chelsea During Their EPL Clash With Man City

Chelsea's Under-21 head coach Calum McFarlane has been thrust into the spotlight as interim manager for the upcoming Premier League fixture against Manchester City on Sunday at the Etihad Stadium.

 This development follows the sudden departure of Enzo Maresca on New Year's Day 2026, after 18 months in charge, amid reported tensions with the club's hierarchy and a dip in form that saw the Blues win just one of their last seven league games.

McFarlane, 40, will make his senior managerial debut against one of the league's powerhouses, facing off against Pep Guardiola in what promises to be a baptism of fire. The Englishman, who joined Chelsea from Southampton in the summer of 2025, has no prior experience managing a professional senior team. Yet, club officials have shown faith in him for this interim role while they seek a permanent replacement, with Strasbourg's Liam Rosenior emerging as the leading candidate.

McFarlane's background adds an intriguing layer to the matchup. He spent several years in Manchester City's renowned academy from 2020 to 2023, working as an assistant coach during a period when both Guardiola and Maresca were at the club. This connection means Sunday's game will mark a return to familiar territory for McFarlane, who has described the past 48 hours as a "whirlwind" but also "enjoyable and exciting." In his pre-match press conference on Friday, he emphasized focus on the task at hand: "It's been a crazy 24 hours, but the energy in training has been exceptional. The players are driven and hungry."

Under McFarlane's guidance this season, Chelsea's Under-21s have impressed, sitting fourth in Premier League 2 with six wins from nine matches. They have also topped their UEFA Youth League group, securing notable victories over elite European youth sides like Barcelona, Benfica, Bayern Munich, and Ajax. His tactical approach often mirrors Maresca's, favoring a 4-2-3-1 or 4-3-3 formation, which could provide continuity for the senior squad.

The timing of Maresca's exit could hardly be worse, with Chelsea fifth in the table—three points behind the top four but vulnerable to dropping further. Manchester City, in second place, represent a formidable challenge, especially at home. McFarlane will be supported by his U21 coaching staff—assistants Andy Ross and James Simmonds, plus analyst Adam Keep—alongside set-piece specialist Bernardo Cueva, the only remnant from Maresca's backroom team.

On team news, McFarlane provided a positive update on defender Marc Cucurella, who has returned to training after missing the recent draw with Bournemouth.