Calum McFarlane responds to ‘irrelevant’ Pep Guardiola mind games

With Chelsea sitting ninth in the Premier League and only two league games left, a place in Europe of any kind next season feels unlikely. Yet, the winner of Saturday’s contest will qualify for the Europa League.

It’s good news for Chelsea, but is it enough? 🏆

Calum McFarlane’s latest injury update.

It is incredible to think that McFarlane’s sixth game as a senior manager will be an FA Cup final, but that is the case. It will be the second time McFarlane shares a dugout with Guardiola, drawing 1-1 in January.

Calum McFarlane responds to Pep Guardiola’s Chelsea claim

Speaking ahead of the match, Man City boss Guardiola suggested Chelsea had an advantage going into Saturday’s final because City were forced to play against Palace on Wednesday night, which they won.

“Chelsea have been at home all week, training and preparing. We have to travel to London, they will be at home with their wife and kids. So that is fatigue, and fatigue, and fatigue,” Guardiola told reporters.

A clear attempt at mind games, given Guardiola made six changes to face Palace with Ruben Dias, Jeremy Doku and Erling Haaland on the bench. Haaland and Dias didn’t even come on; Nico O’Reilly left at home.

Asked about Guardiola’s claim that Chelsea have an advantage going into Saturday’s game, McFarlane branded it “irrelevant”. The interim manager reminded all that Chelsea will be facing an “excellent” side.

“Yeah, it’s tough when you have a game midweek and you have a triple game week, it’s tough. We’ve had a lot of them this year but we’re focused on ourselves, we’re focused on how we prepare,” he said.

“We’re playing against an excellent side and an excellent coach so we need to be at our best, irrelevant if they’ve had a triple game week or not, so that’s what we’re focused on,” McFarlane continued earlier on.

How will Calum McFarlane line-up against Man City on Saturday?

Against Liverpool, McFarlane switched to a line-up that included three at the back, with Marc Cucurella and Malo Gusto at wing-backs, in front of a defence boasting Wesley Fofana, Levi Colwill and Jorrel Hato.

Would you make any changes to our FA Cup final XI?

James and Colwill starting together for the first time since the Club World Cup…

The chances are that McFarlane will retain that system given the performance against Liverpool. Andrey Santos impressed alongside Moises Caicedo, but Reece James is fit and he may be used in midfield.

Or, at right wing-back instead of Gusto. In attack, the return of Pedro Neto and Ale Garnacho does hand McFarlane options, but pragmatism is likely to be the order of the day when McFarlane picks his side.