In a week of profound transition at Stamford Bridge, Chelsea will take to the pitch at Craven Cottage under the temporary guidance of Calum McFarlane, as newly appointed permanent manager Liam Rosenior observes from the stands. This London derby, set for Wednesday evening, presents a unique coda to McFarlane’s brief but notable stint as interim boss, a tenure that began with a resilient 1-1 draw away at the champions, Manchester City.
While the club’s future is now firmly entrusted to Rosenior, who signed a long-term contract running until 2032, the immediate task of navigating a tricky away fixture against a confident Fulham side falls to the under-21s head coach for one final outing.
McFarlane, who only stepped into the first-team breach on January 2nd, approached his pre-match press conference with the calm professionalism that has characterized his unexpected step into the spotlight. When asked about leading the team despite Rosenior’s appointment, he stated, “I’ve been told I’m leading the game tomorrow. So, to try and do as best a job as we can, as we have done, and give him the three points to move on and build from”.
This seamless transition appears to be by design, with McFarlane expressing confidence it would be a smooth process, citing the players’ positive mindset and the quality they have displayed . His focus remains squarely on the match at hand, with preparations undeterred by the managerial announcement. He revealed he had only a “brief” conversation with Rosenior on Monday night and expected to catch up with him properly when the new boss arrives at the Cobham training ground.
On the pitch, Chelsea will be bolstered by the return of several key players. Midfielder Moises Caicedo is available again after serving a suspension and his presence is eagerly anticipated. McFarlane was effusive in his praise, calling Caicedo “a top player, potentially the best player in the world in his position,” and highlighted how much his defensive prowess was missed in the first half at the Etihad Stadium.
Furthermore, there is optimism that goalkeeper Robert Sanchez, defender Marc Cucurella, and centre-back Wesley Fofana could be in contention after recent absences, though final checks were pending after Tuesday’s training session. The performance of young midfielder Andrey Santos, who impressed after coming on against Manchester City, also earned plaudits from the interim coach, who noted the Brazilian’s capability to perform at the highest level.
The opposition, however, poses a significant and specific challenge. Fulham, under Marco Silva, are enjoying a solid season in 11th place and are unbeaten in their last four matches, including a hard-fought draw with Liverpool at Craven Cottage this past Sunday.
In that match, Silva deployed a tactical shift to a back five, a departure from their usual system, which has forced McFarlane and his staff to prepare for multiple scenarios. “We have to prep for two different scenarios,” McFarlane explained, drawing parallels to the adaptive performance his team produced against Manchester City. “We’ll be ready for any scenario, as we were against Manchester City. They didn’t shape up as we had expected, but we adapted”.
Fulham’s form, particularly at home where they recently held Liverpool, underscores the difficulty of the task awaiting Chelsea. Fulham have seen both teams score in 60% of their matches this season, while Chelsea’s games have followed the same pattern in 58% of their league fixtures.
The historical head-to-head record favours the Blues, who have won seven of the last ten meetings between the two west London rivals. Yet, the intangibles of Chelsea’s current situation, a caretaker manager in his final game, a new boss watching on, and the inevitable period of adjustment ahead, add a layer of unpredictability to the derby.
Beyond the immediate match logistics, McFarlane took a moment to reflect on the broader significance of Rosenior’s appointment for the coaching community. As a fellow English coach who has diligently worked his way through academy football, McFarlane sees Rosenior’s hiring as a beacon for others on a similar path.
“I’m sure all young English coaches from an academy background, regardless of who they support, will in some way be rooting for Liam,” he said . He described the appointment as “really inspirational” to see someone secure such a prestigious job after coming through the ranks in a manner familiar to many aspiring coaches.
Looking ahead, McFarlane expressed enthusiasm for strengthening the bridge between the academy and the first team under Rosenior’s leadership. “It’s our job to make Liam’s life difficult by really producing talented young players that can come through,” he remarked, emphasising that promoting youth is “in the DNA” of Chelsea.
He pointed to the three academy graduates who started against Manchester City as evidence of the club’s enduring commitment to this philosophy. For McFarlane, the upcoming return to the under-21s is not a step down but a return to a vital mission, one now charged with even greater purpose in support of the new first-team project.