McFarlane addresses Alonso over Chelsea squad after FA Cup defeat

Calum McFarlane, Chelsea’s caretaker manager, has told the club’s incoming permanent head coach that the squad is composed of “quality” players who have shown “fight and heart.”

The Blues have reportedly reached an agreement with former Bayer Leverkusen and Real Madrid manager Xabi Alonso to take charge on a permanent basis.

In the FA Cup final at Wembley, Chelsea missed a chance to win silverware after Antoine Semenyo’s spectacular goal gave Manchester City the victory.

Shortly after the final whistle, it was widely reported that Chelsea had agreed for Alonso to become the club’s new manager.

The club has been exploring several options to replace Liam Rosenior, who was dismissed last month, with Alonso emerging as the leading candidate this week.

A four‑year contract with the Spaniard has now been finalized, and an official announcement is expected soon.

Chelsea endured six consecutive Premier League defeats—a regrettable streak that ended with a spirited draw against Liverpool last weekend.

While the team’s performance against City showed improvement, they were let down by poor finishing at Wembley.

McFarlane, who stepped in as interim manager for the second time after Rosenior’s departure, believes the team’s recent displays demonstrate the genuine quality within the squad.

Facing accusations of a lack of effort under the previous coach, he said the group has likely dispelled doubts about their commitment.

When asked whether Chelsea’s new coach would have appreciated what they witnessed today, McFarlane said in his post‑match press conference: “It’s a really talented group, there is lots of quality in that group.”

“Their fight and heart have been questioned at times, but based on the last two performances, I don’t think that can be doubted.”