Every word Calum McFarlane said on Enzo Fernandez goal, Chelsea win vs Spurs, Joao Pedro injury

The full transcript from Chelsea interim head coach Calum McFarlane’s post-match press conference following the Blues’ victory against Tottenham on Tuesday evening

Calum McFarlane has finished talking to the media in his post-match press conference following Chelsea’s crucial 2-1 victory over Tottenham.

The Blues just about came away with three points against their long-time rivals on Tuesday night. A goal and an assist from Enzo Fernandez proved the difference for the west Londoners.

McFarlane has just finished his post-match presser. Here is every word the interim head coach had to say:

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Crucial win…

Good to get the win. It was obvious from minute one that we didn’t, at times, have the energy and the intensity that we needed. We had it in patches, it was always going to be tough with the turnaround from the cup final. The physical and psychological load that that put on us, we knew that was going to be the case. I thought we played some really nice stuff in the first half. I thought we deserved the two-goal lead when we got it. And then it was about when Spurs obviously showed more energy, they had more time to prepare for the game, more rest. You could tell that was coming and we just needed to dig in for the result. I thought we’d done well at the end.

Was it a night that reminded you how important Enzo Fernandez is?

I thought Enzo was exceptional tonight. I thought his goal was brilliant. His assist as well, he’s obviously made a massive impact. I don’t think there was anyone you could name on our team that didn’t give absolutely everything to get the win. We don’t want to single out one player. I thought the whole team, the subs came off the bench and gave energy when we needed it. I thought it was a real team performance.

How important is it that European football is alive on the final day and potentially get to the Europa League?

I said it at the beginning of the game and we said it after the City game that we need to put that behind us. The cup final’s gone. We need to try and win two games out of two. We’ve done one now and we’ve got to go again on Sunday and do that again.

Do you think it’s a big motivation now to feel it in the boys that they want to make sure they have something to show for the season?

I genuinely think that they’ve shown that. The results haven’t been good enough recently. We know that everyone’s spoken about that. But the fight and determination has been questioned at times and some of the performance, maybe that’s right. But I don’t think it’s extra motivation. I think this group wants to win every single game of football and we just haven’t been able to do that. But that will give us confidence. We haven’t won in a while in the Premier League. We haven’t won at the Bridge in a while. So that’s something to definitely go off.

The atmosphere was much better this evening. Does that mean supporters are buying into the players?

I’m not too sure on the details around that. I thought the atmosphere was exceptional tonight. I thought you could feel the energy. I thought it was exceptional at Wembley as well. I think it always helps the team when we get that positive energy and it drives us on to do more. There were lads out there tonight that were dead on their feet. But the crowd and the enthusiasm and the drive from the crowd drives them to just push a little bit extra and I thought that was clear tonight.

What’s the latest on Joao Pedro and Levi Colwill?

Yes, so Levi has obviously come off the back of a very serious injury. So it was probably too quick of a turnaround from the cup final. So that one pretty much speaks for itself. So we didn’t want to risk him. We couldn’t afford to risk him tonight, but that would be expected. That would have been the plan from the beginning. Reece (James) is the same. We had Reece on the bench tonight, but again, coming off the back of an injury, the turnaround from the City game, the type of game that the City game was, we didn’t really want to risk him in that moment. Joao Pedro had a slight knock, nothing that we’re massively concerned about. But again, with the quick turnaround from City, it just wasn’t worth risking Joao Pedro in that moment.

Are you expecting those threes will be available from the start on Saturday or is that a wait and see?

It’s definitely a wait and see. We’ve got a little bit of time from now until then. So we’re hopeful, but we won’t know that until the next couple of days, see how the next couple of days unfold.

Shim Mheuka appearance…

I think Shim’s had a great season. I’ve worked with him closely, so I know him really well. He’s played a few times for the first team over the last two years. He’s definitely more than capable to play senior football. We’ve also got really good centre-forwards in the first team, in Joao Pedro and Liam Delap and Marc Guiu as well. So there’s competition for places. We’ve got a few injuries, so it gave Shim the opportunity. Probably would have expected it a bit earlier, I imagine, in his development. But we all know Shim’s potential at the club and we’re really excited about how that’s going to unfold in the next couple of years.