McFarlane Prepares Chelsea for Tottenham Amid Alonso's Arrival
Calum McFarlane walked into the press room at Cobham knowing exactly what was coming. Chelsea face Tottenham at Stamford Bridge on Tuesday in a match that could shape their push for Europe, yet almost every question circled around a man who will not officially start work until July.
Xabi Alonso has landed. McFarlane is just making sure the runway is clear.
Chelsea’s interim head coach cut a calm, pragmatic figure as he addressed the media, 48 hours after the club’s FA Cup final defeat to Manchester City and little more than a day after Alonso was confirmed as Liam Rosenior’s permanent successor on a four-year deal.
The mood around the club has flipped quickly. From Wembley heartbreak to a fanbase buzzing about a Champions League-winning midfielder turned title-winning coach, Stamford Bridge has rediscovered a sense of direction.
McFarlane, though, still has a job to do.
Alonso’s shadow over a derby that still matters
Chelsea vs Tottenham rarely needs extra spice. The rivalry, the history, the noise at Stamford Bridge – the fixture sells itself.
This time, it comes with a twist. The Alonso announcement has dominated the build-up, but McFarlane was adamant the players understand what Tuesday night demands.
“The players have showed fight and heart in the last two games,” he said. “Everyone knows about the rivalry but both teams also have lots to play for. Both teams are fighting for the points, so we shouldn’t need to add extra motivation but it will naturally be there.”
Chelsea are chasing European football and McFarlane did not hide the scale of the task.
“We’re very, very focused,” he stressed. “We need to win the next two games to give ourselves the best chance to finish as high in the table as possible and get European football.”
The message was simple: enjoy the Alonso news, but park it for 90 minutes. Spurs are coming.
Alonso buzz hits the dressing room
If there were any doubts about how Alonso’s arrival would be received inside the dressing room, McFarlane quickly cleared them up.
“Everyone is excited,” he said. “He’s a great coach, won major trophies, a great playing career. He will have lots of respect from everyone. We’re very excited.”
Respect is the word that keeps coming up around Alonso. Champions League titles as a player, a rapidly rising reputation as a coach, and now the keys to a club that still sees itself among Europe’s elite.
“It doesn’t surprise me,” McFarlane added when asked about Chelsea’s ability to attract a name like Alonso. “We’re a massive club with some of the best players in the world.”
Alonso has already made contact. McFarlane revealed the new head coach had sent him a message on Sunday.
“He sent me a text message yesterday, I will keep that private, but mainly about the final.”
The Spaniard will not step into the dugout until 1 July, yet the sense of a new era is already seeping into Cobham.
McFarlane’s future and the backroom question
With Alonso assembling his staff for the summer, the obvious question came: could McFarlane stay on as part of the new regime?
“I don’t know at this moment in time,” he admitted. Asked if he wanted to work with Alonso, he added: “I haven’t thought about that. There’s so much to prepare for.”
It was an honest answer from a coach who knows his brief is short but important. The club’s hierarchy have made their big decision; McFarlane’s focus is on delivering a strong finish that hands Alonso a platform rather than a salvage job.
For now, he is the man on the touchline, carrying the weight of expectation for two more games.
Team news: caution with Lavia and Colwill
The FA Cup final took its toll. Romeo Lavia, who has endured a disrupted season, is again being handled with care.
“Romeo took a slight knock in the build-up to the game, nothing major,” McFarlane explained. “With Romeo, we don’t want to take that risk. We need to be careful.”
Benoit Badiashile and Malang Sarr missed the squad at Wembley, but McFarlane suggested they could yet play a part before the season closes.
“Benoit and Mamadou didn’t make the squad – we can use them in the next two games potentially. We have a lot of players in their position.”
The afternoon training session would provide further clarity.
“They’re gonna train this afternoon and we will have a much better idea of where they are.”
One of the brightest spots of the last week has been Levi Colwill. Thrown back into the fire with starts at Anfield and in an FA Cup final, the defender has reminded everyone why he is so highly rated.
“It’s been great to have Levi back – great for English football as well,” McFarlane said. “We have a really talented, high potential player here. To perform away at Anfield and in the FA Cup final, we’re all really excited about Levi.”
Can he go again against Spurs?
“We need to be careful with Levi,” McFarlane warned. “He’s performed well in those two games. We’ll see how he looks today.”
Managing minutes, managing risk, managing a squad that has been stretched and reshaped all season – it all feeds into these final two games.
A massive club, a massive appointment
Inside the club, Alonso’s arrival has been framed as a statement. McFarlane echoed that sentiment without any hint of surprise.
“Really exciting news,” he said. “Great coach with a massive pedigree. We’re all really looking forward to working with Xabi.”
There is no confusion about the hierarchy. Alonso is the long-term architect; McFarlane is the caretaker ensuring the house is in order when the new owner moves in.
Chelsea’s interim coach knows the size of the stage he is standing on, even if only briefly.
“We’re a massive club,” he said again, almost as a reminder and a challenge rolled into one.
Tottenham at home. European football on the line. A fanbase dreaming about Alonso’s first day in July.
Before any of that, McFarlane and his players have two games to prove that Chelsea are still a team worth inheriting.
