LONDON (AP) — Calum McFarlane said he's had a “whirlwind” 24 hours at Chelsea since being elevated from Under-21s coach to interim manager and then tasked with facing Pep Guardiola and Manchester City on Sunday.
The Englishman was put in charge while Chelsea finds a replacement for Enzo Maresca. McFarlane led team training Friday after his security pass was upgraded so he could access the first-team building.
“It’s been a crazy 24 hours, a whirlwind as you can imagine, but it’s also been really enjoyable and exciting,” McFarlane said.
The London club announced on Thursday that Maresca left his position as manager — following a reported deterioration in his relationship with the team’s hierarchy.
Liam Rosenior, who coaches French team Strasbourg — a club in the same ownership group as Chelsea, has been reported to be a leading contender for the job.
On Sunday, though, McFarlane will lead the Blues at Etihad Stadium against a manager who has surpassed the 1,000-game mark in charge.
“The energy and enthusiasm in training was exceptional today,” said McFarlane, who worked in City's academy in the 2020-21 season before moving to Southampton and then Chelsea. “They seem really focused, they’re really driven, hungry. They know we’ve got a massive game on Sunday, and were going to have to be at our best.”
Chelsea starts the second half of the Premier League season in fifth place. The Blues are three points back of fourth-place Liverpool but also just three points ahead of 11th-place Fulham.
The game at City is the first of nine matches for Chelsea this month in all competitions.
Chelsea is seeking a fifth full-time manager since the takeover of the club by American investors, fronted by Todd Boehly, in May 2022.
Maresca was in charge for 18 months and won the Conference League and Club World Cup in his first season at Chelsea.
AP soccer: https://apnews.com/hub/soccer
Chelsea's Joao Pedro, top, helps Wesley Fofana stand up after the English Premier League soccer match between Chelsea and Bournemouth in London, England, Tuesday, Dec. 30, 2025. (AP Photo/Kin Cheung)
Chelsea's head coach Enzo Maresca, right, shakes hands with Reece James after the English Premier League soccer match between Chelsea and Bournemouth in London, England, Tuesday, Dec. 30, 2025. (AP Photo/Kin Cheung)
Tage Thompson and Clayton Keller helped the U.S. win the world hockey championship for the first time since 1933, while Seth Jones was a key part of the Florida Panthers' second consecutive Stanley Cup run.
Those contributions earned them a spot on the U.S. team at the Milan Cortina Winter Olympics as the only three additions from the 4 Nations Face-Off early last year.
USA Hockey unveiled its roster Friday on the “Today” show, with a vast majority of it made up of players who took part in the NHL-run international tournament in February, when the Americans made the final before losing to Canada in overtime. The only ones not back from the 4 Nations are forward Chris Kreider and former New York Rangers teammate Adam Fox, the 2021 Norris Trophy winner as the NHL's top defenseman.
“It was incredibly difficult for our management group to get to the final roster and that’s a credit to so many in our country, including all those at the grassroots level who help make our sport so strong," general manager Bill Guerin said. "There’s nothing like the Olympics and I know our players and staff will represent our country well and work hard to achieve our ultimate goal.”
Keller, who's captain of the Utah Mammoth and tied for their lead in scoring, wore the “C" at worlds. Thompson, who plays for the Buffalo Sabres, was a point-a-game producer.
The U.S. followed Canada's lead after its northern neighbor also chose a 4 Nations-heavy roster. But while Canada made some changes in net beyond starter Jordan Binnington, the Americans went with the same three goaltenders: Connor Hellebuyck, Jake Oettinger and Jeremy Swayman.
Left off were Jason Robertson of the Dallas Stars, who's leads U.S. players in points this season, and a couple other elite goal scorers, Cole Caufield and Alex DeBrincat.
Guerin and his management staff, along with coach Mike Sullivan, prioritized experience and players they knew well. That meant sticking with depth forwards Vincent Trocheck and Brock Nelson over Robertson and others.
Teams are allowed 25 players at the Olympics, up from 23 at the 4 Nations, and can dress 20 skaters — typically 13 forwards and seven defenseman, along with two goalies. The first U.S. game is Feb. 12 against Latvia.
AP Olympic coverage: https://apnews.com/hub/milan-cortina-2026-winter-olympics
FILE - Florida Panthers Seth Jones carries the Stanley Cup during the NHL hockey team's Stanley Cup championship celebration, Sunday, June, 22, 2025, in Fort Lauderdale, Fla. (AP Photo/Michael Laughlin, File)
FILE - Sweden's Marcus Johansson falls by United States' Tage Thompson during the semifinal match between Sweden and the United States at the ice hockey world championships in Stockholm,Sweden, Saturday, May 24, 2025. (AP Photo/Petr David Josek, File)
FILE - United States' Clayton Keller holds up the tropy after the final match between United States and Switzerland at the ice hockey world championships in Stockholm, Sweden, Sunday, May 25, 2025. (AP Photo/Petr David Josek, File)
