After Liam Rosenior’s dismissal, caretaker manager Calum McFarlane took charge of the Blues once more ahead of an important FA Cup semi-final against Leeds United at Wembley.
With Chelsea failing to win any of their last five matches, failing to score since their 7-0 win over Port Vale, and having just dismissed their manager, caretaker manager Calum McFarlane had a tricky job on his hands.
The Blues were a side devoid of any positives, looked deflated, and after sacking another manager, Liam Rosenior’s assistant Calum McFarlane stepped into the hot seat once more.
After not winning in his two previous games as Chelsea manager, the tough task of getting the win to book their place in the FA Cup Final was something that the Blues were in desperate need of after a recent poor run of form.
At Wembley, Chelsea stepped up, delivered a 1-0 win to take them into the FA Cup Final and to earn caretaker manager Calum McFarlane his first win as Blues boss.
From semi-professional football and youth coaching to leading a team into a final, Calum McFarlane’s rise and Chelsea’s win over Leeds United rounded out a dream day for the 40-year-old manager.
Caretaker Manager Calum McFarlane: A Dream Day For The Chelsea Interim Boss
For Chelsea, after the dismissal of Liam Rosenior ahead of such an important semi-final, it could not have come at a worse time; however, with the Blues on the slide, the club’s ownership saw enough.
After handing the former Chelsea manager a six-year contract, it once again showed the ruthless nature of the BlueCo ownership, as the former Strasbourg manager lasted only 104 days.
Caretaker manager Calum McFarlane stepped into the interim role for a second time, after experiencing the Chelsea hot seat for a week following Enzo Maresca’s sacking.
The job on hand: reach an FA Cup final with Chelsea to put an end to a torrid run of form that has seen the Blues pushed out of the European football places in the Premier League.
Managing a Premier League compared to managing an FA Cup semi-final are two completely different tasks, but caretaker manager Calum McFarlane proved his tactical class and his in-game management.
Enzo Fernández’s goal in the 23rd minute was the only goal of the contest as Chelsea grinded out a narrow win that punched their ticket into the FA Cup Final.
The Chelsea captain, who has had transfer rumours swirling around him for many months, showed his leadership skills and his predatory instincts in the box with a neat headed finish.
From that point onwards, Chelsea were happy to retain possession, pass their way around the Leeds team, and hit on the counterattack.
In the box, the Blues lacked that end product as Joao Pedro saw a shot hit the post, and many of Alejandro Garnacho’s crosses failed to find his teammates.
With that being said, Calum McFarlane could not be much happier with his team as he recorded his first win as Chelsea boss and became the first English manager since Frank Lampard in 2019-20 to reach an FA Cup Final.
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Chelsea vs Manchester City: The Gargantuan FA Cup Final Awaits
The clash at Wembley on May 16 will put two huge clubs against each other for a chance of lifting silverware at the home of English football.
Manchester City, having already lifted the Carabao Cup after beating Arsenal last month, has the chance of picking up another trophy with the potential of a domestic treble.
After a comeback win over Southampton yesterday, Pep Guardiola’s side will look to win the FA Cup for the first time since 2022/23 to potentially spark a domestic treble.
For Chelsea, a trophy would be a joyous achievement after a season filled with so many ups and downs. Champions League knockout disaster, manager sackings, and potentially failing to feature in European football next season, winning the FA Cup would mean so much more for Chelsea.
Having already won eight FA Cup trophies, this one would be a special win due to the recent torrid run against Manchester City. The Blues have failed to record a victory over the Cityzens since the 2021 UEFA Champions League Final.
In addition to that, Chelsea have failed to win the FA Cup since 2018, and a win for the Blues and caretaker manager Calum McFarlane would be a special feat.
If the Blues achieve that feat, McFarlane would become the second caretaker manager to win the FA Cup after Roberto Di Matteo’s success in 2012.
Main Photo
Credit: IMAGO / NurPhoto
Recording Date: 26.04.2026
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