Chelsea caretaker Calum McFarlane insists he is not working with a broken squad amid suspicions that their ludicrous losing streak is causing tension among team-mates.
The harmony between Blues’ players was scrutinised again after Monday’s latest surrender to Nottingham Forest, which represented their sixth successive loss in the Premier League. Only once in Chelsea’s history have they ever lost seven on the trot, and they risk equalling that 74-year-old club record away at Liverpool in Saturday’s lunchtime kick-off.
In a week when Jamie Carragher has accused the Blues of being ‘broken’, and Real Madrid have been rocked by a dressing room divide with team-mates arguing and scrapping, McFarlane says his players have remained professional, and are fighting for each other, not against one another.
‘The group are disappointed with the performance against Forest,’ McFarlane said. ‘We reviewed it as well. I haven’t seen any rows or rifts or anything out of the ordinary.
‘They are elite players who have got to this level by having the talent and the mentality and drive. It’s just about bringing it out.
Chelsea interim boss Calum McFarlane has responded to claims his team are broken
The Blues are ending the season with a whimper having lost six league games in a row
‘You don’t get to play for this level of club or countries these guys play for if you don’t have that. It is just about supporting them and doing as much as we can as a staff and giving them everything they need to go out on the pitch and perform.’
While Chelsea are having to deal with an injury crisis on their wings – Pedro Neto and Alejandro Garnacho are expected to miss this trip to Liverpool with muscular issues, joining Jesse Derry, Jamie Gittens and Estevao Willian on the sidelines – they do have Levi Colwill and Reece James available in defence.
‘It’s great to have them back,’ McFarlane said. ‘It’ll be great to have them both on the pitch at the same time. Two top players. Elite players. England internationals. They will definitely help the group.
‘In my opinion, he (Colwill) is one of the best centre backs in world football. The fact that he’s left-footed gives you a really nice balance in the team.
Jamie Carragher insisted Chelsea are ‘broken’ but McFarlane said that is not the case
‘He’s a great person, great character. He’s a winner, a leader. He’s very, very important for this football club. Levi is a complete footballer. Whatever you need a centre back to do, he can do, in possession and out.’
Aston Villa’s Europa League semi-final second-leg comeback against Forest on Thursday means there remains the possibility that sixth in the Premier League could equal Champions League qualification if Unai Emery’s side go on to win that competition and finish fifth.
Chelsea, however, are currently four points adrift of Bournemouth – managed by Andoni Iraola, who is one of the candidates for the Blues’ vacancy – in sixth after their slump.
‘This club needs to be competing at the forefront of football, in the biggest competitions,’ McFarlane added. ‘It’s something that this club is designed for.’
Chelsea goalkeeper Robert Sanchez is set to miss out on facing Liverpool through a head injury, so Filip Jorgensen is set to step up instead. That would represent Jorgensen’s first start since his erroneous performance in their 5-2 Champions League away at Paris Saint-Germain.
‘I still have faith in Filip,’ McFarlane said of the 24-year-old shot-stopper.
