Calum McFarlane Explains Tactical Plan That Ended Chelsea’s Losing Run in FA Cup Semi-Final Win Over Leeds

Calum McFarlane described relief as his overwhelming feeling after Chelsea secured a 1-0 victory over Leeds United in the FA Cup semi-final at Wembley on Sunday, a result that books the club’s place in the final against Manchester City.

The match represented McFarlane’s first game back in the interim role following the dismissal of Liam Rosenior earlier in the week. Rosenior’s exit came after Chelsea went five consecutive Premier League matches without scoring, a slump that followed a commanding 7-0 FA Cup quarter-final victory over Port Vale. Sunday’s result also snapped a three-match losing run that had included a 3-0 defeat to Brighton & Hove Albion in Chelsea’s most recent outing before Wembley.

Enzo Fernández settled the tie with a first-half header, which proved to be the only goal of the match. Leeds, who arrived at Wembley on the back of seven matches unbeaten across all competitions, pushed harder after the interval but were unable to fashion clear opportunities against goalkeeper Robert Sánchez.

“Relief is the correct word. We were confident going into the game, we had a really good three days, but you never know,” McFarlane told TNT Sports. “We really wanted to shift the momentum. Our form hasn’t been great recently, that’s where the relief comes in.”

McFarlane also addressed the nature of his return to the interim post, noting that familiarity with the squad made the transition more straightforward than his previous stint. “It’s been easier this time because I already have a relationship with the players. I understood what they needed psychologically,” he said.

Central to Chelsea’s performance was a deliberate tactical decision designed to neutralise one of Leeds’ primary strengths. Daniel Farke’s side had been in strong form heading into the semi-final, and McFarlane identified their man-to-man pressing as a specific threat when Chelsea were in deep possession.

“We knew Leeds were dangerous when we had deep possession because they go man-to-man, so we wanted to go longer. Create a bit of fear in them with our pace, and once they dropped, we had space to play,” McFarlane explained.

By bypassing Leeds’ press with direct play and using Chelsea’s pace to force Farke’s side into a deeper defensive shape, McFarlane’s side was able to control large portions of the contest and ultimately limit Leeds to minimal clear-cut chances throughout the 90 minutes.

Chelsea will now face Manchester City in the FA Cup final. The result adds a degree of stability to a club that has experienced significant managerial turbulence this season, though questions around the long-term managerial appointment at Stamford Bridge are expected to intensify as the season draws to a close.