Chelsea interim head coach Calum McFarlane will be aiming to impress his in-laws by lifting the FA Cup at Wembley on Saturday.
The family of the stand-in boss’s partner are long-standing Blues season ticket holders and will be there to see his team take on Manchester City.
It represents a last-ditch attempt to salvage something from what has been a miserable season, one that could yet get worse with the club facing a campaign without European football if they fail to overcome City.
“My girlfriend’s family are massive Chelsea fans,” said McFarlane. “Her Dad and uncles have been season ticket holders for 50 years. She’s a massive Chelsea fan.
“They’re very proud. It means a lot to all Chelsea fans. It’s a massive game. I hope we can put in a performance for all the fans.”
It has been a remarkable elevation for the 38-year-old who 12 months ago was in charge of Southampton’s under-21 side.
The final will be only his sixth match as a manager in senior football with his only victory having come in the semi-final against Leeds.
The former Saints and Man City youth coach has been installed until the end of the season, taking over from Liam Rosenior who was sacked in April after only three months in the job.
“I can’t tell you exactly how I’m going to feel on the day,” said McFarlane.
“I’ll try to make it as normal as possible. I’ve taken a few games now at this level. Not a game of this magnitude.
“I’ll try and stay as level as possible. The players, the process, the way we work will be the same. I’m sure I’ll feel a lot of emotions on that day.”
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Results have been mixed since McFarlane took temporary charge. Rosenior was dismissed following a run of five consecutive league defeats, and that sequence extended in the interim coach’s first game in charge, a 3-1 home defeat by Nottingham Forest.
However, there were signs of an improved attitude from the players during the semi-final win over Leeds, and they also fought back from a goal down to draw 1-1 away at Liverpool on Saturday.
“I’ve actually been happy with the whole group, the way the whole group has responded,” said McFarlane. “Players in the squad, players out of the squad. The level of professionalism that’s been shown at all times.
“There’s obviously players with great experience in there who have played in big competitions, had big moments in their career. You want their opinion, to know how they feel about the game.
“You want to have that dialogue with those players. I have that with pretty much the whole squad.”
Chelsea set 28-day plan to hire new manager
According to Fabrizio Romano, BlueCo have a plan in place to hire a new manager before the beginning of the World Cup.
The competition starts in exactly four weeks, giving the club just 28 days to get a new boss in the dugout.
Speaking on his personal Youtube channel, the reporter revealed both Xabi Alonso and Andoni Iraola are open to taking the Stamford Bridge job, and Iraola in particular is “excited” by the idea of managing the Blues.
The 43 year-old has already confirmed he will leave Bournemouth at the end of the season despite taking the Cherries to the brink of European football, and has rejected proposals from Europe in order to stay in the Premier League.