Chelsea interim boss Calum McFarlane has admitted there was “shock” in the Blues dressing room after Enzo Maresca was axed, as the caretaker coach tried to steady the group in the wake of the decision.
McFarlane was placed in interim charge and took the team into a draw with Manchester City, with the caretaker insisting the squad’s response in difficult circumstances said a lot about the players.
Speaking after the game, McFarlane revealed the mood inside the camp following Maresca’s departure and did not hide how sudden it felt for those involved. “Shock,” he said when asked about the reaction in the dressing room.
Despite the disruption, the interim boss credited three players for helping to keep the group together in the immediate aftermath and for setting the tone during a challenging period.
McFarlane said those individuals “dragged the group together” as Chelsea sought to move on quickly and focus on the task in front of them, with the draw against City offering a measure of stability at a time of change.
The caretaker’s comments underlined the impact Maresca’s axing had on the squad, while also highlighting the role of senior figures in helping Chelsea respond on the pitch despite the uncertainty off it.
