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JUST IN: CALUM MCFARLANE SPEAKS! "PICKING THE TEAM IS THE HARDEST JOB" AT CHELSEA

Interim boss Calum McFarlane reveals the challenges of picking a Chelsea XI to face Man City after Enzo Maresca’s shock exit.

JUST IN: Calum McFarlane speaks! "Picking the team is the hardest job" at Chelsea
Caretaker boss McFarlane scrambles for fit players

Chelsea’s interim boss, Calum McFarlane, has opened up about how he’ll pick his starting eleven to face Manchester City in the Premier League.

McFarlane, who’s usually in charge of Chelsea’s Under-21s, stepped up after Enzo Maresca’s recent departure. He met the first team for the first time just before Friday’s training session, and now he’s suddenly prepping for a huge match—Chelsea’s first of nine in a packed January.

Getting ready to take on Pep Guardiola’s side, McFarlane doesn’t have a lot of time to figure out his lineup for the Etihad. Some decisions are already out of his hands. Moises Caicedo is suspended, so he’s definitely out. Marc Cucurella’s back in training after a hamstring injury, but it’s not clear yet if he’s ready to play.

Asked about his approach, McFarlane said he’s working closely with the medical team to manage everyone’s fitness, including Cole Palmer and Reece James. He admitted, “Honestly, picking a team is tough—probably the hardest part of the job, even with the U21s. You always end up letting someone down, but you’ve got to do what feels right in the moment.

“We’re obviously talking to the medical staff, especially since a few guys are coming back from injuries. That’s pretty standard, but we’ll pick the team that’s ready to compete and get the job done.”

After Maresca’s exit was announced around lunchtime on New Year’s Day, McFarlane and the rest of the staff dived straight into analyzing Man City. They watched City play last night, which gave them a fresh look at what to expect and helped them sketch out a plan for Sunday.

Meanwhile, Chelsea are still searching for a permanent manager. Right now, RC Strasbourg’s Liam Rosenior is leading the race, with Andoni Iraola also in the mix.

For now, the club’s directors and owners have thrown their support behind McFarlane as he handles the caretaker role. “I’ve spoken to the directors and owners, and honestly, they’ve been great,” McFarlane said. “They’ve given us everything we need. We’re all in this together.”

£104M SHOCK: CHELSEA LAUNCH RECORD-BREAKING BID FOR REAL MADRID STAR FEDERICO VALVERDE

Chelsea launch a stunning £104m bid for Real Madrid's Federico Valverde. Learn how Liam Rosenior plans to rebuild the Blues' midfield.

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Chelsea is ready to spend big on Federico Valverde now

According to Fichajes, Chelsea is planning a move for Real Madrid's Federico Valverde.

After firing Enzo Maresca, Chelsea played two Premier League games against Manchester City and Fulham under caretaker boss Calum McFarlane, but they didn't win either one.

Liam Rosenior is now the new manager, and his time began with a big 5-1 win over Carlton Athletic in the FA Cup third round last weekend.

Fichajes says that Rosenior wants to build his Chelsea team around a midfielder who can do it all, and he thinks Valverde is the perfect guy.

But Valverde’s contract runs until 2029, so Real Madrid isn't looking to sell him. They'll only let him go if they get a crazy good offer.

The player likes being with the Spanish team and isn't trying to leave right now. Still, Chelsea is ready to make an official £104m offer to try and get Real Madrid to sell him. Real Madrid might have a tough time turning down that much money, and is willing to think about the offer before deciding.

Valverde is a flexible midfielder who can play as a deep playmaker or in a box-to-box role. He can also fill in at right-back and on the right side.

Valverde has had a lot of success with Real Madrid, winning every major competition and becoming one of the world's best midfielders.

Right now, Chelsea’s midfield options include Moisés Caicedo, Enzo Fernández, Romeo Lavia, Dario Essugo, and Andrey Santos. But Lavia and Essugo have been dealing with injuries.

Because of that, Caicedo and Fernandez have been playing a lot. Valverde is in his prime and could be a huge addition for Chelsea if they can get him.

It will be interesting to see if Chelsea can get the South American to join them in January or next summer.

Chelsea will play Arsenal in the Carabao Cup semi-final first leg this week before playing Brentford in the Premier League next weekend.

BREAKING: LIAM ROSENIOR DOES WHAT NINE CHELSEA MANAGERS COULDN’T IN TEN YEARS

Liam Rosenior ends a decade-long curse as Chelsea smash Charlton 5-1. Discover why he’s the first since Conte to win his debut.

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One game in, and Rosenior already looks more "Chelsea" than his predecessors

Liam Rosenior couldn’t have asked for a better start as Chelsea’s new manager. His team smashed Charlton Athletic 5-1 in the FA Cup third round on Saturday, and with that, Rosenior became the first Chelsea boss in ten years to win his debut match. The goals came from everywhere—Jorrel Hato, Tosin Adarabioyo, Marc Guiu, Pedro Neto, and Enzo Fernandez all got on the scoresheet. It was a statement win, and Chelsea cruised into the next round.

You have to go back to Antonio Conte in August 2016 to find the last time a new Chelsea manager kicked off with a victory. Back then, Conte oversaw a 2-1 win against West Ham. In between, nine different managers, including caretakers and interims—even Frank Lampard, twice—couldn’t pull off a debut win. They managed a handful of draws and a few losses, but nobody started with three points until Rosenior.

After the match, Rosenior sounded pretty pleased with his squad’s attitude. He said, “Yeah, I was very happy with the attitude of the team, even in the first half. This isn’t an easy place to come, third round of the FA Cup. I thought our pressing was really intense and sharp. We controlled things, created chances from distance, and got a great goal from Hato at the perfect time.”

He went on, “The game opened up in the second half. We know we’ve got fantastic players. I was able to bring more quality off the bench, but honestly, I was delighted with the starting XI and especially the front three. Ale kept pushing in his one-on-ones, Marc Guiu was outstanding and really deserved his goal, and Jamie Gittens kept running at defenders. He always looked dangerous. So yeah, a lot of positives and a really good start.”

Now, Chelsea’s focus shifts to the Carabao Cup semi-final first leg against Arsenal on Wednesday. After that, Rosenior takes charge of his first Premier League game at Stamford Bridge against Brentford.

Talking about the big Arsenal clash, Rosenior said, “I’ve got another two days. The main thing I challenged the players on was how we react to setbacks and the intensity we show. Nothing tactical or technical—these players are top quality and have been well coached before I arrived. I was happy with the togetherness, the spirit, the way they ran, won duels, won headers—all the basics. That’s what makes the difference.”

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