McFarlane suggests new Chelsea boss will 'be in' on Monday

Liam Rosenior is reportedly set to be interviewed for the vacancy at Chelsea, with interim boss Calum McFarlane saying "there's a chance" the club's new head coach will be appointed on Monday.

Strasbourg coach Rosenior is believed to be the leading candidate to replace Enzo Maresca, who departed Stamford Bridge on New Year's Day.

According to reports, the 41-year-old has flown to London for talks with Chelsea's hierarchy, and could potentially be named as Maresca's successor.

Rosenior claimed he is focused on "world-class club" Strasbourg, who are seventh in Ligue 1 – the same position they finished during his first season at Le Racing, where he has enjoyed "the best 18 months of my professional career".

Although, the former Hull City boss, who led the Tigers to a seventh-place finish in the Championship two seasons ago, did acknowledge his desire to "work at the highest possible level".

"When I first took the job, I was told I would take the Manchester City game. So that was three days with the group," McFarlane said following Chelsea's 1-1 draw with Manchester City on Sunday. 

"There's a chance the new manager will be in on Monday – that's what I was told originally. Obviously, it's Sunday now.

"We've been solely focused on the game. As far as I know, the new manager will be in shortly, and I'll lead the team until he's in."

Under-21s coach McFarlane also spoke of his pride at leading the Blues in a game of such magnitude, during which Enzo Fernandez's late equaliser rescued a point.

"For me personally, it was amazing, stuff you dream about: Pep Guardiola, Premier League game, amazing," he added.

"I'm really proud of the performance, even if that goal didn't come, I thought the character the lads showed, especially in the second half... I would've been so happy regardless. It's even better we got the equaliser I thought we deserved.

"The whole focus over the last two days was winning this game. Obviously, we haven't done that, but putting in that performance, we're all very proud. We always believed we could come here and win.

"[Guardiola is] one of the best managers that has ever done it. That seemed to be the narrative of the game and I don't think it should have been.

"It should be about the players, and how well they performed. It shouldn't be about me, it should be about the quality performance those lads put on with everything that has gone on."