McFarlane should not be protecting his players after another shocker – everyone can see the truth

Calum McFarlane defended Chelsea’s players in his press conference again today – but his words are so far from reality.

Speaking after Chelsea’s defeat to Nottingham Forest yesterday, interim manager Calum McFarlane defended his team’s efforts:

“I know the group, I’ve known them for a little while now and they are driven,” the caretaker said.

“They want what’s best for themselves, they want what’s best for this club and we’re going to do everything we can to try and win every single game we can from now to the end of the season.

McFarlane can improve his standing – and maybe results – with a harsher tone

Of course it’s McFarlane’s natural position to defend the effort the players put in. But what he doesn’t seem to realise is that by claiming they’re all trying their hardest, he’s making the bad results harder to take.

If they’re all doing their best and losing, what do we conclude? That they’re all terrible players?

What makes it worse is that everyone watching these games can see that nobody is putting in full effort. So we’re just inclined to stop taking the interim coach seriously. Given he’s likely not going to be around the first team beyond the end of this season, he doesn’t have to worry about keeping players happy.

He should use his privileged position to call out some of those who deserve it, not protect them.

Another bleak part of a dreadful afternoon was Jesse Derry getting taken off injured after a horrible clash of heads. We now at least have an update from him.

Francesco Farioli is keeping himself far away from the Chelsea project it seems, with the latest reports saying he’s staying in Porto.