Chelsea FC interim head coach Calum McFarlane has described his side’s 3–1 Premier League defeat to Nottingham Forest as “disappointing,” admitting the opening stages of the match were “not acceptable.”
Speaking via the club’s official YouTube channels, McFarlane pointed to a poor start that saw Chelsea concede early, calling it a “sucker punch” that disrupted their approach. He also highlighted defensive issues, particularly the team’s failure to deal with aerial threats and protect the back post.
McFarlane said:
I thought the first 15 minutes we were nowhere near the level we needed to be. The early goal was a bit of a sucker punch. We know that they like to cross to the back post. We know that the No 9 likes to peel to the back post. We should defend that moment better.
He reacted to Enzo Fernández hitting a post, Cole Palmer missing a penalty and João Pedro having a goal ruled out for offside before the Brazilian finally scored a spectacular scissor kick late on. He said;
We had our moments. When you start that badly, you need those moments to go your way, to give you a chance to fight back into the game. But ultimately, the first 15 minutes was not acceptable.
When Asked if Chelsea’s players would be sufficiently motivated to pursue qualification for the Europa or Conference League, I know the group. He replied:
I’ve known them for a little while now. They are driven. They want what’s best for themselves. They want what’s best for this club. We’re going to do everything we can to try to win every single game we can from now to the end of the season.
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The interim boss acknowledged that his side never reached the required level and struggled to respond effectively to Forest’s tactics. Despite the setback, he backed his players to improve, urging them to “move on quickly” after what became a sixth consecutive league defeat.
Softfootball understands that The result, played on May 4, 2026, confirmed Chelsea’s failure to qualify for next season’s UEFA Champions League, marking a major setback for the club.
Elsewhere, Arsenal FC have secured their place in the UEFA Champions League final, underlining a contrasting end to the season for the London rivals.
