The Blues went into matchweek 38 knowing a win at the Stadium of Light would give us a good chance of securing continental football for 2026/27, but instead it was our hosts Sunderland who triumphed to book their spot in the UEFA Europa League.

Goals either side of half-time put us two down with a mountain to climb. Cole Palmer pulled one back with over half-an-hour remaining to give us hope, but we were then reduced to 10 men by a second yellow card for Wesley Fofana.

Ultimately we succumbed to a 2-1 defeat, condemning the Blues to finish the campaign in 10th place and without European football to look forward to next season.

‘It was a disappointing end to the season,’ admitted interim head coach McFarlane, after his last game in that role.

‘We should be finishing a lot higher up the league. For me, with this group of players, the talent we have, we should be in the Champions League. We've been too inconsistent at times this year and it's ultimately cost us.’

At the end of the day, McFarlane concedes that we just didn’t do well enough to get the result we needed at the Stadium of Light, although he insists that despite that he can’t fault the players’ effort or commitment throughout his time as interim head coach.

‘The feeling in the dressing room is obviously of disappointment,’ he added. ‘We wanted to win today and make the best of a bad situation and get into the Europa League.

‘We weren't able to do that. We didn't get the performance we wanted, or the result.

‘I can only speak on my interactions with them over eight games or so and I have no qualms or desire to question their mentality in those moments.

‘I know we didn't win every game, but they gave us everything every single day. I could ask no more, and we just weren't able to get over the line in some of the games that mattered.’