McFarlane urges Chelsea to embrace FA Cup pressure to salvage season

Calum McFarlane urged Chelsea to embrace the pressure by putting their Premier League form behind them to win the FA Cup on Saturday.

Chelsea have slipped down the league table in recent weeks – and sacked head coach Liam Rosenior – after failing to win any of their last seven games in the competition.

The Blues have won just two of their last 11 matches in all competitions (D1 L8), but both victories have come in the FA Cup against Port Vale (7-0) and Leeds United (1-0) in the last two rounds.

This is Chelsea's 17th FA Cup final, the third most after Manchester United (22) and Arsenal (21).

They have won eight and lost eight of their final appearances so far, losing each of their last three in a row since beating United in 2018.

But McFarlane believes Chelsea can rise up to the expectations on them ahead of their clash with Manchester City at Wembley.

"Our recent form in the league has been way below the standard we'd expect and that we'd shown previously. It's an FA Cup final, so we want to win it," he told reporters on Thursday.

"It's a massive competition. When you're at a club of this magnitude, and like you've mentioned, the history that this club has got in this competition and winning silverware, there's always pressure.

"There's pressure to win every game. You have to accept that and embrace that."

Chelsea's last eight matches at Wembley have produced just seven goals in total (four goals, three conceded) while they have failed to score in each of their last four finals at the national stadium since a fifth-minute Christian Pulisic goal against Arsenal in the 2020 FA Cup final.

Their 13-game winless run against City is their longest against an opponent since going 17 without a victory against Arsenal between January 1999 and March 2004.

But the Blues' last victory against City did come in a showpiece, however, when they triumphed 1-0 in the 2020-21 Champions League final.

"They've got the belief they can beat anyone," McFarlane added.

"We just know that we have to be the best version of ourselves. They're an exceptional side, with an exceptional coach and exceptional players.

"They're going to be a challenge, but we also have some really good players. These players have shown that if they're at their best, they can beat anyone."