{"id":4357,"date":"2026-05-05T17:37:15","date_gmt":"2026-05-05T17:37:15","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/playball.com.ng\/?p=4357"},"modified":"2026-05-05T17:37:15","modified_gmt":"2026-05-05T17:37:15","slug":"calum-mcfarlane-picks-out-defender-as-rare-positive-from-nottingham-forest-defeat","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/playball.com.ng\/?p=4357","title":{"rendered":"Calum McFarlane picks out defender as rare positive from Nottingham Forest defeat"},"content":{"rendered":"<p> <br \/>\n<\/p>\n<div q:key=\"QW_7\"><!--qv q:key=QW_4--><!--qv q:id=6t q:key=vcaa:\n\n<p>Chelsea&#39;s hopes of finishing in the top four are over after the side suffered a 3-1 defeat to Nottingham Forest on Monday.<\/p>\n\n--><!--qv q:id=6u q:key=lY4S:mL_1--><\/p>\n<p id=\"inline-text-0\" class=\"mt-(18px) md:mt-0 mb-(18px) (&amp;_a):text-primary my-f-1\" q:key=\"0\" q:id=\"6v\">Chelsea&#8217;s hopes of finishing in the top four are over after the side suffered a 3-1 defeat to Nottingham Forest on Monday.<\/p>\n<p><!--\/qv--><!--\/qv--><!--\/qv--><!--qv q:key=QW_4--><!--qv q:id=6w q:key=vcaa:\n\n<p>The Blues welcomed Vitor Pereira&#39;s Tricky Trees to Stamford Bridge for what was a crucial match in the side&#39;s hopes of European qualification.<\/p>\n\n--><!--qv q:id=6x q:key=lY4S:mL_1--><\/p>\n<p id=\"inline-text-1\" class=\"my-(18px) (&amp;_a):text-primary my-f-1\" q:key=\"0\" q:id=\"6y\">The Blues welcomed Vitor Pereira&#8217;s Tricky Trees to Stamford Bridge for what was a crucial match in the side&#8217;s hopes of European qualification.<\/p>\n<p><!--\/qv--><!--\/qv--><!--\/qv--><!--qv q:key=QW_4--><!--qv q:id=6z q:key=vcaa:\n\n<p>It was another embarrassing performance. A brace from Taiwo Awoniyi and a third from Igor Jesus made the Blues&#39; mountain too big to climb &mdash; not helped by Cole Palmer missing a penalty kick just before half time. <\/p>\n\n--><!--qv q:id=70 q:key=lY4S:mL_1--><\/p>\n<p id=\"inline-text-2\" class=\"my-(18px) (&amp;_a):text-primary my-f-1\" q:key=\"0\" q:id=\"71\">It was another embarrassing performance. A brace from Taiwo Awoniyi and a third from Igor Jesus made the Blues&#8217; mountain too big to climb \u2014 not helped by Cole Palmer missing a penalty kick just before half time. <\/p>\n<p><!--\/qv--><!--\/qv--><!--\/qv--><!--qv q:key=QW_4--><!--qv q:id=72 q:key=vcaa:\n\n<p>Joao Pedro managed to score a superb bicycle kick to pull one back but it was far too late in the game and saw Forest leave London with all the points.<\/p>\n\n--><!--qv q:id=73 q:key=lY4S:mL_1--><\/p>\n<p id=\"inline-text-3\" class=\"my-(18px) (&amp;_a):text-primary my-f-1\" q:key=\"0\" q:id=\"74\">Joao Pedro managed to score a superb bicycle kick to pull one back but it was far too late in the game and saw Forest leave London with all the points.<\/p>\n<p><!--\/qv--><!--\/qv--><!--\/qv--><!--qv q:key=QW_4--><!--qv q:id=75 q:key=vcaa:\n\n<p>Despite the shocking performance, and even worse result, there was one rare positive, though.<\/p>\n\n--><!--qv q:id=76 q:key=lY4S:mL_1--><\/p>\n<p id=\"inline-text-4\" class=\"my-(18px) (&amp;_a):text-primary my-f-1\" q:key=\"0\" q:id=\"77\">Despite the shocking performance, and even worse result, there was one rare positive, though.<\/p>\n<p><!--\/qv--><!--\/qv--><!--\/qv--><!--qv q:key=QW_4--><!--qv q:id=78 q:key=vcaa:\n\n<h2>Calum McFarlane happy to see Levi Colwill back<\/h2>\n\n--><!--qv q:id=79 q:key=lY4S:mL_1--><\/p>\n<h2 id=\"inline-text-5\" class=\"scroll-mt-24 my-(18px) (&amp;_a):text-primary my-f-1\" q:key=\"0\" q:id=\"7a\">Calum McFarlane happy to see Levi Colwill back<\/h2>\n<p><!--\/qv--><!--\/qv--><!--\/qv--><!--qv q:key=QW_4--><!--qv q:id=7b q:key=vcaa:\n\n<p>Levi Colwill was named among the Chelsea substitutes for the first time all season.<\/p>\n\n--><!--qv q:id=7c q:key=lY4S:mL_1--><\/p>\n<p id=\"inline-text-6\" class=\"my-(18px) (&amp;_a):text-primary my-f-1\" q:key=\"0\" q:id=\"7d\">Levi Colwill was named among the Chelsea substitutes for the first time all season.<\/p>\n<p><!--\/qv--><!--\/qv--><!--\/qv--><!--qv q:key=QW_4--><!--qv q:id=7e q:key=vcaa:\n\n<p>The 23-year-old suffered an ACL injury at the very start of pre-season and has been ruled out ever since. <\/p>\n\n--><!--qv q:id=7f q:key=lY4S:mL_1--><\/p>\n<p id=\"inline-text-7\" class=\"my-(18px) (&amp;_a):text-primary my-f-1\" q:key=\"0\" q:id=\"7g\">The 23-year-old suffered an ACL injury at the very start of pre-season and has been ruled out ever since. <\/p>\n<p><!--\/qv--><!--\/qv--><!--\/qv--><!--qv q:key=QW_4--><!--qv q:id=7h q:key=vcaa:\n\n<p>Having completed his rehabilitation, he featured for the Under-21&#39;s last week before being reintroduced to first team football recently.<\/p>\n\n--><!--qv q:id=7i q:key=lY4S:mL_1--><\/p>\n<p id=\"inline-text-8\" class=\"my-(18px) (&amp;_a):text-primary my-f-1\" q:key=\"0\" q:id=\"7j\">Having completed his rehabilitation, he featured for the Under-21&#8217;s last week before being reintroduced to first team football recently.<\/p>\n<p><!--\/qv--><!--\/qv--><!--\/qv--><!--qv q:key=QW_4--><!--qv q:id=7k q:key=vcaa:\n\n<p>Colwill was not risked from the start but was introduced after half time and came on in place of Tosin Adarabioyo.<\/p>\n\n--><!--qv q:id=7l q:key=lY4S:mL_1--><\/p>\n<p id=\"inline-text-9\" class=\"my-(18px) (&amp;_a):text-primary my-f-1\" q:key=\"0\" q:id=\"7m\">Colwill was not risked from the start but was introduced after half time and came on in place of Tosin Adarabioyo.<\/p>\n<p><!--\/qv--><!--\/qv--><!--\/qv--><!--qv q:key=QW_4--><!--qv q:id=7n q:key=vcaa:\n\n<p>Although the Englishman wasn&#39;t able to prevent Forest from claiming victory, his long-awaited return was a huge positive, and interim boss Calum McFarlane, who spoke to Chelsea&#39;s official website, confirmed the significance of the defender&#39;s comeback.<\/p>\n\n--><!--qv q:id=7o q:key=lY4S:mL_1--><\/p>\n<p id=\"inline-text-10\" class=\"my-(18px) (&amp;_a):text-primary my-f-1\" q:key=\"0\" q:id=\"7p\">Although the Englishman wasn&#8217;t able to prevent Forest from claiming victory, his long-awaited return was a huge positive, and interim boss Calum McFarlane, who spoke to Chelsea&#8217;s official website, confirmed the significance of the defender&#8217;s comeback.<\/p>\n<p><!--\/qv--><!--\/qv--><!--\/qv--><!--qv q:key=QW_4--><!--qv q:id=7q q:key=vcaa:It&rsquo;s one of the only positives (from the Nottingham Forest game).<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>It&rsquo;s great to have Levi back and we know what he brings to this team. We&rsquo;re hoping he can help us moving forward.--><!--qv q:id=7r q:key=0J2M:mL_1--><\/p>\n<blockquote class=\"border-lightGrey my-f-1\" q:key=\"qi_3\">\n<div class=\"italic text-black text-center font-group-large\">&#8220;It\u2019s one of the only positives (from the Nottingham Forest game).<\/p>\n<p>It\u2019s great to have Levi back and we know what he brings to this team. We\u2019re hoping he can help us moving forward.&#8221;<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p><!--\/qv--><!--\/qv--><!--\/qv--><!--qv q:key=QW_4--><!--qv q:id=7s q:key=vcaa:\n\n<p>Chelsea&#39;s next game sees them travel to Anfield on May 9 to take on Liverpool. There is hope Colwill will be afforded more minutes as he continues to get back up to full match fitness.<\/p>\n\n--><!--qv q:id=7t q:key=lY4S:mL_1--><\/p>\n<p id=\"inline-text-12\" class=\"my-(18px) (&amp;_a):text-primary my-f-1\" q:key=\"0\" q:id=\"7u\">Chelsea&#8217;s next game sees them travel to Anfield on May 9 to take on Liverpool. There is hope Colwill will be afforded more minutes as he continues to get back up to full match fitness.<\/p>\n<p><!--\/qv--><!--\/qv--><!--\/qv--><!--qv q:key=QW_4--><!--qv q:id=7v q:key=vcaa:\n\n<h2>Colwill will be expecting new centre-back partner from next season<\/h2>\n\n--><!--qv q:id=7w q:key=lY4S:mL_1--><\/p>\n<h2 id=\"inline-text-13\" class=\"scroll-mt-24 my-(18px) (&amp;_a):text-primary my-f-1\" q:key=\"0\" q:id=\"7x\">Colwill will be expecting new centre-back partner from next season<\/h2>\n<p><!--\/qv--><!--\/qv--><!--\/qv--><!--qv q:key=QW_4--><!--qv q:id=7y q:key=vcaa:\n\n<p>Given the Blues&#39; disappointing collapse &mdash; especially in the Premier League &mdash; there is huge expectation that BlueCo will go big in the summer.<\/p>\n\n--><!--qv q:id=7z q:key=lY4S:mL_1--><\/p>\n<p id=\"inline-text-14\" class=\"my-(18px) (&amp;_a):text-primary my-f-1\" q:key=\"0\" q:id=\"80\">Given the Blues&#8217; disappointing collapse \u2014 especially in the Premier League \u2014 there is huge expectation that BlueCo will go big in the summer.<\/p>\n<p><!--\/qv--><!--\/qv--><!--\/qv--><!--qv q:key=QW_4--><!--qv q:id=81 q:key=vcaa:\n\n<p>While signing at least one new forward will also be on the agenda following Liam Delap&#39;s failed move from Ipswich Town, a new centre-back will be the priority.<\/p>\n\n--><!--qv q:id=82 q:key=lY4S:mL_1--><\/p>\n<p id=\"inline-text-15\" class=\"my-(18px) (&amp;_a):text-primary my-f-1\" q:key=\"0\" q:id=\"83\">While signing at least one new forward will also be on the agenda following Liam Delap&#8217;s failed move from Ipswich Town, a new centre-back will be the priority.<\/p>\n<p><!--\/qv--><!--\/qv--><!--\/qv--><!--qv q:key=QW_4--><!--qv q:id=84 q:key=vcaa:\n\n<p>Several names, including Bournemouth&#39;s Marcos Senesi and Crystal Palace&#39;s Maxence Lacroix, have been linked already but little progress has been made on either deal.<\/p>\n\n--><!--qv q:id=85 q:key=lY4S:mL_1--><\/p>\n<p id=\"inline-text-16\" class=\"my-(18px) (&amp;_a):text-primary my-f-1\" q:key=\"0\" q:id=\"86\">Several names, including Bournemouth&#8217;s Marcos Senesi and Crystal Palace&#8217;s Maxence Lacroix, have been linked already but little progress has been made on either deal.<\/p>\n<p><!--\/qv--><!--\/qv--><!--\/qv--><!--qv q:key=QW_4--><!--qv q:id=87 q:key=vcaa:\n\n<p>Although it remains to be seen which central defender the club will push for, one thing is for sure, with Colwill set to play a big part next season, he will be expecting to have to form a solid partnership with a player he has not yet lined up next to.<\/p>\n\n--><!--qv q:id=88 q:key=lY4S:mL_1--><\/p>\n<p id=\"inline-text-17\" class=\"my-(18px) (&amp;_a):text-primary my-f-1\" q:key=\"0\" q:id=\"89\">Although it remains to be seen which central defender the club will push for, one thing is for sure, with Colwill set to play a big part next season, he will be expecting to have to form a solid partnership with a player he has not yet lined up next to.<\/p>\n<p><!--\/qv--><!--\/qv--><!--\/qv--><!--qv q:id=8a q:key=1jXG:QW_5--><!--qv q:id=8b q:key=9yVI:Ef_0--><\/p>\n<div on:click=\"q-1Tftb5V2.js#s_Ytib2zHV0Tc(0 1)\" q:key=\"WY_1\" q:id=\"8c\"><!--qv q:s q:sref=8b q:key=--><\/p>\n<div data-testid=\"google-news-widget\" class=\"my-5 p-4 flex items-center gap-4 rounded-lg bg-(#F0F0F0)\">\n<div class=\"flex min-w-0 flex-1 items-center gap-3\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"22\" height=\"22\" alt=\"\" src=\"https:\/\/assets.minutemediacdn.com\/platform\/google_discover_icon.svg\" class=\"shrink-0\"\/><span class=\"font-group-big text-black text-(16px)\">Add us as a preferred source on <span class=\"font-bold\">Google<\/span><\/span><\/div>\n<p><span class=\"hidden pt-(1px) leading-(1.4) md:inline\">Follow<\/span><svg viewbox=\"0 0 4 8\" fill=\"none\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"h-(12px) w-(6px) md:h-(8px) md:w-(4px)\"><path d=\"M0.5 0.5L3.5 4L0.5 7.5\" stroke=\"white\" 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