It was in a fixture against Manchester City at the start of this year that Calum McFarlane took charge of Chelsea for the first time. And during that 1-1 draw at the Etihad Stadium, lessons were learned and positives were gleaned.
The Blues were more than a match for the team chasing the Premier League title and deservedly earned a point courtesy of Enzo Fernandez’s dramatic stoppage-time leveller.
For McFarlane, coming up against a coach like Pep Guardiola in his first game in senior management provided the steepest of learning curves. It was one he responded to positively, with Chelsea improving as the contest went on, as tactical changes were implemented.
‘I remember that game vividly and it was a really good learning experience,’ said McFarlane in the build-up to today’s FA Cup final.
‘The first half was tough; we got the prep wrong, and they had a lot of control. We didn't want the game to look the way it did. We had to suffer. We had to run. We had to defend our box really well.
‘We made some changes in the second half to try and shift the momentum and be a bit more aggressive and get a bit more territory, and it worked in some elements. We got a foothold in the game. But they're a top side. They can punish you at any moment.
‘It was a good second-half performance, and I thought it was more down to the players than myself. You can give them ideas, you can give them instructions, but there's moments it's going to go wrong in the game.
‘The fight that we showed in that game, we worked so hard to get that point. I was really pleased at the end – when Malo [Gusto] puts the cross in and Enzo tucks it away – that the players got their rewards for the fight they showed in the second half.’
McFarlane says he and his staff have watched that game along with plenty of others involving Manchester City, such as the more recent defeat we suffered at Stamford Bridge. All due diligence is vital to preparation.
The interim head coach maintains an unshaken faith in his side to deliver when it matters. He hopes the draws at City and Liverpool, as well as the semi-final success over Leeds he oversaw, can set the blueprint for victory this afternoon.
‘I'm confident in this group,’ said McFarlane. ‘We have got top players – you saw that on Saturday when we played against Liverpool.
‘There are a lot of things about this team and the players that give you confidence. It’s not just taken from one game.’