Calum McFarlane struggling with ‘difficult’ Chelsea manager’s job just one week after taking over
Calum McFarlane is set to be in charge of Chelsea for the rest of the 2025/26 season, although he is already struggling with the extra exposure being in the hotseat brings.
McFarlane has been handed the job after the sacking of Liam Rosenior just three months after taking over, returning to the role he temporarily held after Enzo Maresca’s departure.
The interim boss has the respect of the Chelsea squad, and oversaw a 1-0 win at Wembley in the FA Cup semi-final to get his short reign off to the best possible start.
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Tosin deserves another chance after the FA Cup…
Calum McFarlane struggling with pressures of being Chelsea manager
However, he will have quickly become aware of the added pressures that come with the head coach role. Press conferences, post match interviews, and scrutiny over every decision he makes are part and parcel of the job.
BBC Sport have stated that people close to McFarlane have stated that he has found aspects of taking the step up to head coach ‘difficult’.
The report goes on to say that it has not helped that this decision has come at a time where Chelsea fans have made their outraged feelings known in recent weeks.
Blues supporters protested in their hundreds ahead of the recent Premier League game against Manchester United, clearly losing all faith in BlueCo and their decision making.
This has included in the managerial department. The hiring of Rosenior was seen as a strange move, and one purely made because of his time in charge of Strasbourg.
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Candidates emerging for Chelsea job
The areas of the job the interim is not enjoying make him an unlikely candidate for the job on a permanent basis, no matter how he ends the season.
Xabi Alonso has emerged as one of the main candidates for the job, with former club Liverpool looking as if they are going to stick with Arne Slot for now.
There was a reported desire from the decision makers to bring in a manager who has Premier League experience under his belt.
This could point them in the direction of Andoni Iraola, Eddie Howe or Marco Silva as their favoured candidate, with a decision not set to be made before the end of the season.
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