In an encounter full of emotions, Chelsea achieved an agonizing draw against Manchester City (1-1), in a match that could be the only one for Calum McFarlane in charge of the team. McFarlane, coach of Chelsea’s under-21 team, took over as technical director after the surprising departure of Enzo Maresca. Chelsea is preparing to announce Liam Rosenior, current coach of Strasbourg, as Maresca’s replacement, before the match against Fulham. In a match that could be his only chance as a coach, McFarlane saw Enzo Fernández score a goal in the 94th minute, frustrating City’s aspirations in the title fight. Tijjani Reijnders put Pep Guardiola’s team ahead with a goal before halftime. Although City controlled the game, Chelsea equalized in added time thanks to Fernández’s goal.
A detrimental result for City, who have gone two consecutive matches without a win, remaining six points behind Arsenal at the top of the table.
Dawson
Reijnders in shape for City
Midfielder Reijnders, after an irregular start, demonstrated his goalscoring ability. He scored his fifth goal in the Premier League against Chelsea. After returning to the starting lineup since mid-December, he has scored in three of his last four matches. Playing on the left against Chelsea, he showed danger with his runs, similar to Ilkay Gündogan. If Reijnders continues to score crucial goals, he could help alleviate the responsibility of Erling Haaland as City’s main goalscorer.
McFarlane achieves a draw against Guardiola
The Etihad Stadium witnessed a duel of coaches. Pep Guardiola, with multiple titles, faced Calum McFarlane, coach of Chelsea’s U-21, who took over after Maresca’s departure. McFarlane, aware of Chelsea’s philosophy, maintained a style similar to that of the first team, although he opted for a conservative strategy out of possession. Despite a complicated start, McFarlane and Chelsea gained confidence in the second half. The entry of Liam Delap and the subsequent goal by Fernández gave the team the tie.
