Chelsea boss dismisses dressing room theory ahead of crunch Liverpool game
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Chelsea interim boss Calum McFarlane has denied accusations his players have given up this season ahead of Saturday's Premier League trip to Liverpool, while confirming Robert Sanchez will miss the matchInterim boss Calum McFarlane has denied the Chelsea players have 'downed tools'(Image: Darren Walsh/Chelsea FC)Interim manager Calum McFarlane has dismissed claims that Chelsea's players have 'downed tools' this season, ahead of Saturday's trip to Liverpool.Thousands of disgruntled supporters departed early on Monday as the beleaguered Stamford Bridge outfit slumped to a sixth consecutive Premier League defeat, losing 3-1 at home to Nottingham Forest. That woeful sequence, their worst since 1993, has extinguished any hopes of Chelsea securing a top-five finish and automatic Champions League qualification going into the final games of the season.Despite performances pointing to the contrary, McFarlane was adamant his players have not given up ahead of the clash with fifth-placed Liverpool at Anfield this weekend.READ MORE: Liverpool transfer news and rumors today LIVE: Wharton interest, Diomande latest, Senesi moveREAD MORE: How many points Liverpool needs to confirm Champions League before Chelsea game"No, I wouldn't agree with that," he stated at his pre-match press conference.
"The performances haven't been good enough, we're in a really bad run at the moment."But I do see these boys every day, every training session, every meeting, in the gym, they are in a good place to go and attack games."We just haven't been able to translate that on the game on Monday, so hopefully we can improve that on Saturday."McFarlane faces the additional headache of being without goalkeeper Robert Sanchez against the Reds, following the head injury he sustained against Forest, with wingers Pedro Neto and Alejandro Garnacho also facing late fitness assessments.McFarlane also disclosed that despite some "positive" news surrounding teenage debutant Jesse Derry following his horrific head injury sustained during the defeat, the forward will be sidelined for the remainder of the campaign.Get LFC's 2025/26 season home and away kitsThis article contains affiliate links, we will receive a commission on any sales we generate from it. Learn moreFrom $100LFC.comSee the dealLiverpool's home and away strips for the 2025/26 season are the first in their new partnership with adidas.Fans can order jerseys in the US at Fanatics.com or via the LFC Online Store in both the US and across the world."I spoke to Jesse's dad the night it happened, I spoke to him yesterday, I spoke to the family yesterday as well, and it's positive, really positive," added McFarlane, who will also be without Jamie Bynoe-Gittens and Estevao."I don't have the knowledge or the insights to go into massive detail, but all early signs are really positive."It's really disappointing, obviously as long as he's healthy and the way he's looking now is what really matters."But it was great to give him his debut.
I worked with Jesse in the under-21s, he's had a fantastic season."He's not going to be available for us from now to the end of the season now, so it's an abrupt end to his season. But it was amazing for him to make his debut and I think he showed in that first half his quality and what he can bring to this team."