Chelsea interim boss Calum McFarlane has conceded the Blues face a huge task to reach the Champions League places, but insists there is still plenty to fight for as Nottingham Forest visit Stamford Bridge.
Chelsea interim manager Calum McFarlane has admitted the club’s hopes of reaching next season’s UEFA Champions League are now hanging by the thinnest of threads, though he has urged supporters and players alike to remain united as the campaign enters its final weeks.
The Blues head into Monday’s clash with Nottingham Forest sitting eighth in the Premier League table and a full 10 points adrift of the top five, leaving almost no margin for further slip-ups.
McFarlane returned to the dugout last month for a second interim spell after Liam Rosenior was dismissed following a disastrous five-game losing streak that had plunged Stamford Bridge into frustration and uncertainty. His first match back brought a narrow but vital 1-0 victory over Leeds United, a result that not only halted the immediate decline but also booked Chelsea a place in the FA Cup final.
Still, the league table paints a grim picture. Chelsea’s inconsistency has left them relying not only on a perfect finish to the campaign but also on a collapse from several rivals above them.
Brighton, Bournemouth, Brentford and even Fulham have all shown more stability in recent weeks, while Chelsea have spent too much of the spring lurching from one setback to another. What once looked like a push for a Champions League return has become a desperate scramble just to stay relevant in the European conversation.
When asked directly whether qualification for Europe’s elite competition was beginning to look beyond them, McFarlane did not attempt to sell false hope. Instead, he accepted the reality of the situation while stressing that dwelling on mathematics would help no one inside the dressing room.
Nottingham Forest arrive fighting for points of their own, while an FA Cup final against Manchester City looms on the horizon as the club’s biggest occasion of the season.
Winning silverware would not erase the shortcomings of this Premier League campaign, but it would soften the criticism and offer the players something tangible after months of underachievement.
There was at least some encouraging news on the injury front ahead of Monday night. Club captain Reece James has returned to training after another hamstring setback, while defender Levi Colwill is also nearing full fitness after a lengthy spell out.
🚨 Breaking: Chelsea interim coach McFarlane confirms Reece James and Levi Colwill are back in training.
“Reece is back in training. Levi is back in training. Both looking good. Both are looking promising”. pic.twitter.com/pcPJhS1yJX
— Fabrizio Romano (@FabrizioRomano) May 1, 2026
McFarlane was careful not to make firm promises over their availability, but both players are considered in contention if they come through final assessments without issue.
