Chelsea Coach: 'Drawing with Man City at Etihad, I find it... completely normal'

In the early hours of January 5th (Vietnam time), Chelsea managed to escape defeat at Etihad by holding Man City to a 1-1 draw in the notable first match under interim head coach Calum McFarlane.

Chelsea earned a valuable point at Etihad after a dramatic 1-1 draw against Manchester City, as part of the 20th round of the 2025/26 Premier League season. In his first time leading the senior team at the highest level, interim coach Calum McFarlane not only helped The Blues avoid defeat but also left several notable tactical marks.

Chelsea faced difficulties when Tijani Reijnders scored the opener for Man City in the first half. However, the visitors’ resilience became evident in the second half, especially after significant tactical changes from the coaching staff. The reward came in stoppage time when Enzo Fernandez capitalized on chaos in the penalty area to equalize 1-1, silencing the Etihad crowd.

After the match, Calum McFarlane admitted he felt almost no pressure despite it being his debut as interim head coach. The young manager surprised many with his rare composure when facing Pep Guardiola.

“Honestly, I felt everything was... quite normal. I thought I would be nervous entering Etihad, with the stands packed, but I wasn’t. I’ve been doing this job for a long time, and I truly enjoyed that moment.”

The biggest highlight in Chelsea’s moral victory was the tactical adjustments made after the break. McFarlane acknowledged the team was caught off guard by Man City’s first-half setup, which continuously pressured Chelsea. Switching to man-to-man pressing and introducing Andrey Santos helped the visitors regain midfield control, while pushing Enzo Fernandez forward created a difference.

“What impressed me most was the players’ spirit. Down 0-1 at Etihad, with the interim coach and many players falling ill just before the match... yet they absorbed the tactics, got up, and played an outstanding second half. That says a lot about the character of this group,” McFarlane emphasized.

Regarding the near future, McFarlane confirmed he will continue to lead Chelsea’s training until the club appoints a new head coach. Although just a “temporary solution,” his convincing debut against Man City certainly left a strong impression on Chelsea fans.

With this draw, Chelsea currently sit 5th in the standings with 31 points, just 3 points behind 4th place Liverpool.