BREAKING: REECE JAMES RETURNS TO CHELSEA TRAINING; AVAILABLE FOR NOTTINGHAM FOREST ON MONDAY
Calum McFarlane hints at promoting Cobham youth stars as Reece James and Levi Colwill move closer to a first-team return today.
Calum McFarlane gave an update on injuries ahead of Chelsea’s match against Nottingham Forest. There’s a chance the Blues will get some big names back in the squad for Monday’s game at Stamford Bridge.
On Friday, speaking from Cobham, McFarlane shared that Reece James is finally back training with the team. James hurt his hamstring in March and missed the last seven games, but now he’s moving closer to a return.
McFarlane also said Levi Colwill is “looking good". Colwill got his first game back last weekend with an impressive showing for Chelsea’s Under-21s after his own long stint out. He’d been sidelined since the start of pre-season with an ACL injury and helped Harry Hudson’s side grab a 1-0 win over Middlesbrough in the Premier League 2 play-offs.
“Reece is back in training and Levi too, both looking good,” McFarlane said. “There’s still a little time until the game, so we’ll see how they do, but it’s promising. We’re just taking it day by day. Levi’s been out a while, and Reece had a solid run before getting hurt again, so we don’t want to rush things.”
Even though he hasn’t played for six weeks, James remains an important leader for Chelsea. “Reece has been brilliant since I stepped up in January,” McFarlane said. “He’s taken on a different role while he’s been injured. Even though he’s young, he’s got good experience and a winning background. He’s been a massive part of the leadership group and a huge help to the staff and me.”
McFarlane started his second run as interim head coach with a win over Leeds United in the FA Cup semi-final, a much-needed victory after a tough run. Before that, Chelsea hadn’t won for almost a month, their last big result being a 7-0 win against Port Vale.
“When you’re not getting results, it’s tough,” McFarlane said. “A win changes the mood and lifts the team right away.”
Chelsea slipped back in the Champions League race while Liam Rosenior was in charge, falling ten points behind the competition. Asked if a top-five finish is still possible, McFarlane admitted, “You’re right to question it. We just have to focus on winning our games and not worry about anything else.” As for priorities for the rest of the season, he said, “It’s all about getting the next training session and the next game right, taking it one day at a time and making sure we’re ready at the top level.”
He was also asked whether any under-21 players might get promoted soon. “There’s loads of young talent here at Cobham,” McFarlane said. “I know them well; they train with us all the time. They’ve got a big game tonight; I’ll be there watching, and there’s definitely some in that group who can make the jump up.”
DECODING THE MADRID OPEN VIDEO: WHY ENZO FERNANDEZ MET JUDE BELLINGHAM COURTSIDE
Chelsea’s Enzo Fernandez is "focused" on the FA Cup final despite a visit to Madrid. Agent Javier Pastore clears the air.
Enzo Fernandez’s future at Chelsea has been under the microscope ever since he took a quick trip to Madrid and ended up in a viral video greeting Real Madrid’s Jude Bellingham at the Madrid Open. As usual, speculation went wild. People wondered if Enzo was angling for a move or just enjoying some downtime.
But Javier Pastore, once a PSG star, now Enzo’s agent, wanted to set the record straight. He shot down the rumours that his client is agitating for a transfer. Enzo was in Madrid with Chelsea teammates Marc Cucurella and Joao Pedro, nothing more. The buzz online only got louder because not long ago, Chelsea disciplined Enzo for what the club called “unprofessional behaviour",Pedro; and fans started reading into everything.
Talking with Spanish outlet AS, Pastore cleared the air. “Everyone’s talking, but honestly, there’s nothing up. He’s focused on finishing the season strong at Chelsea,” he said. Pastore admitted Enzo made a few comments about Madrid but insists there’s nothing weird about it; he just likes the city.
Pastore stressed that these Madrid visits are personal, not business. “Whenever he’s got a day off, he heads to Madrid. I’m there; he’s got friends there; that’s all it is. Nothing more.” As for Enzo’s commitment, Pastore said the midfielder wants to finish the season, play a strong World Cup, and then see what comes next. The door isn’t shut, but for now, it’s all about Chelsea and preparing for the FA Cup final.
Enzo’s role at Chelsea has changed a lot under different managers. That’s part of what makes him valuable, Pastore pointed out. The agent explained, “He’s played all over further forward under Enzo Maresca, holding midfield under Liam Rosenior, and as a more attacking ‘number eight’ for Argentina." He racks up assists and goals, so it makes sense coaches see him as more attacking. But he can fit in defensively too.”
Still, even though Pastore says there’s no drama, the summer could get interesting. Reports suggest Chelsea are open to big offers for Fernandez, especially given the club’s record £106.8 million investment in him. With a contract that runs until 2032, he won’t be leaving unless someone pays big.
In the meantime, Enzo keeps showing why Chelsea paid so much in the first place. After his winning goal against Leeds in the FA Cup semi-final, interim boss Calum McFarlane praised his grit. “When tactics went out the window and Leeds were pressing us, he’s just a fighter. He runs, competes, tackles, and lifts the team; sometimes that’s all you need,” McFarlane said. That spirit, not just talent, has kept Enzo at the heart of Chelsea’s plans at least for now.
DECODING JOE COLE’S TACTICAL BREAKDOWN: WHY OLIVER GLASNER IS THE PERFECT FIT FOR CHELSEA
From Fabregas to Glasner: Inside Chelsea's search for a new head coach following a string of five consecutive defeats.
Joe Cole thinks Oliver Glasner would be a smart pick to manage Chelsea, and he’s pretty sure the Crystal Palace boss would leap at the opportunity this summer.
Right now, Chelsea is looking for a new permanent head coach after firing Liam Rosenior. Calum McFarlane has stepped in as caretaker for the second time in just four months.
Toward the end of Rosenior’s time, results took a nosedive. A 3-0 loss at Brighton, which was their fifth straight defeat, was the final straw for the people in charge at Stamford Bridge.
McFarlane picked up the pieces and managed to guide the team to a tough 1-0 win over Leeds in Sunday’s FA Cup semi-final at Wembley. He’s expected to lead them out again in the final against Manchester City on May 16.
Chelsea’s decision-makers want to sort out a permanent manager soon, and Glasner, who’s set to leave Crystal Palace this summer, is one of several names on their radar.
Andoni Iraola, Felipe Luis, and Cesc Fabregas have all been mentioned recently. But last Friday, Fabregas seemed to rule himself out by stressing his commitment to Como.
Speaking on The Dressing Room Podcast, Cole said, “Glasner’s a good shout. He’s not quite at the top level yet, so Chelsea would look like a big step up for him after Frankfurt and Palace.”
He added, “But honestly, if you take the Chelsea job, you have to know they’re not going to throw huge money at it. The cash just isn’t there right now, no matter what anyone says. They won’t be spending hundreds of millions in the summer. It just doesn’t add up financially.
“So, Chelsea needs someone who can grab hold of things. Glasner’s a good fit, and you know he’d want the job. Don’t even start hoping for someone like Luis Enrique if he’s leaving PSG. Xabi Alonso’s done really well, but still…”
Cole also mentioned Fabregas as a possible ‘interesting’ choice if things change. “Cesc would be a wild card, but you’d be handing the job to someone pretty inexperienced. Still, he really understands what it takes at the very top,” Cole said.
“It’s not the same as Liam [Rosenior], who came in as a young manager. Enzo Maresca played at Juventus but wasn’t there long. Cesc was honestly one of the best midfielders the league has seen. So that would be interesting if conditions were right.”
In his Paddy Power column this week, Cole told Frank Lampard not to even think about returning for a third stint as Chelsea manager, despite Lampard’s strong season with Coventry City.
“Frank should stay away from Chelsea, no matter how tempting it is. He loves the club, I get that, but he shouldn’t go back,” Cole wrote. “He’s been fantastic at Coventry. Nobody really expected them to push for promotion this year.”
Looking ahead, Chelsea wants to build on their FA Cup win over Leeds as they return to Premier League action at home against Nottingham Forest next Monday.
The Blues are stuck in eighth place after five straight losses. But a win over Forest could jump them up to sixth, ahead of Bournemouth and Brighton.
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