Chelsea's interim coach Callum McFarlane appeared at a press conference to discuss Sunday's match against Manchester City in the 20th round of the Premier League, to be held at the Etihad Stadium.

The coach said: "I feel calm right now, but of course, as we get closer to the match, the tensions will increase a bit. I haven't worked at this level before, but the players have been great, and we will do it together. The main task is to prepare the players to face Manchester City. The team needs to be ready, and we are here to support them in doing their job to the best of their ability."

He added regarding his message to the players: "My message to them was to show the best version of themselves, to work together as a team, and to believe in our ability to perform well in the upcoming match. I have spoken with the owners and managers, and they have been very supportive. They have provided us with everything we need to succeed, and we couldn't ask for anything more."

Regarding his relationship with the former coach Enzo Maresca: "Our relationship was conventional, as expected between an under-21 team coach and the first team coach. Many of our players train with the first team, and he showed great interest in what the young players offer, giving many of them opportunities to appear with the first team."

Regarding the team's preparations for the match: "We found out about it yesterday afternoon, and it was fortunate that we watched the opposing team's game last night, which allowed us to come up with some ideas for the match. This is a football game; it's not about me or my first match or facing Pep Guardiola, but about Chelsea versus Manchester City. We will go there to compete, and we have seen this season what the team can deliver in big moments."

He continued about his first impression of the players and the training: "The energy and enthusiasm in training today were exceptional. The players are very focused and hungry for success, knowing that we face a huge match on Sunday. Reece [James] was outstanding; he is a true leader within the group and supports both the coaching staff and the players."

Regarding Mark Cocurella's condition: "Being able to participate in his first training session is a positive sign, but we are still not fully certain about his fitness level. We will keep you updated in the coming days."

He spoke about his experience as interim coach at Chelsea: "It was a crazy 24 hours, but very enjoyable and exciting. A wonderful experience that I feel completely positive about, and an amazing opportunity."