Chelsea are ‘going to be confident’ in final against City

Interim head coach Calum McFarlane insists Chelsea will be full of confidence heading into their FA Cup final showdown with Manchester City.

A 1-0 win over Leeds United at Wembley secured the Blues’ place in the showpiece event, with Enzo Fernandez heading home the decisive goal.

And despite the formidable challenge posed by Pep Guardiola’s side, McFarlane believes his team can cause an upset.

“We wouldn’t be going into the game thinking we’re not going to win,” McFarlane said.

“They’re a great side, he’s a great manager, and they’re probably the form team in the league.  There is a lot they can do to hurt you.

“But we’re going to be confident, we’re going to attack the game, and hopefully put in that sort of performance again.”

The victory over Leeds provided a much-needed lift for Chelsea following a difficult run of form, including a disappointing midweek defeat to Brighton.

McFarlane highlighted the impact of Fernandez, who captained the side in the absence of the injured Reece James.

“He’s a winner. He’s got so much talent and so much fight,” McFarlane added. “When it gets tough, you see the fight in him, driving the group on and fighting for every loose ball. He was exceptional and deserved his man-of-the-match award.”

The win also marked a personal milestone for McFarlane, who was an assistant manager at Whitehawk just eight years ago.

But he inisted: “It felt normal. You don’t even have time to focus on it or take in the fact that you’re playing at Wembley; you’re solely focused on making sure the team’s performance is at the highest level.

“Maybe at the end of the season reality will hit, but there is so much coming thick and fast right now.”