It might have seemed the perfect moment for Pep Guardiola and Manchester City to face Chelsea. The London side had endured a disastrous December, their Premier League form had collapsed, and simmering tensions between Enzo Maresca and the club’s hierarchy finally boiled over on New Year’s Eve.
Managerial changes on the opening day of a calendar year are rare, and this one resulted in Calum McFarlane, Chelsea’s under-21 coach, being handed the role of interim head coach. He had never previously taken charge of a senior match. His spell may yet be brief, with Chelsea hoping to appoint Maresca’s successor before Wednesday’s derby at Fulham. Liam Rosenior, currently at Strasbourg and the club’s leading candidate, travelled to London on Sunday for final discussions.
Regardless of what comes next, McFarlane can reflect with pride—and perhaps disbelief—on his sudden moment on the biggest stage. Chelsea not only competed with City but stunned them with a stoppage-time equaliser from Enzo Fernández.
The goal that dented City’s title ambitions and left Guardiola raging on the touchline was far from undeserved. McFarlane’s substitutions were astute, particularly the introduction of former City striker Liam Delap, and Chelsea were building momentum. Another ex-City player, Cole Palmer, nearly struck in the 89th minute but failed to make clean contact, raising anxiety among the home supporters as six minutes of added time were signalled.
Then came the breakthrough. Malo Gusto’s cross from the right was slightly deflected. Delap could not connect in the centre, but Fernández arrived at the far post. His first attempt was poorly struck, the second was saved by Gianluigi Donnarumma at close range, but the third left no doubt.
City were left frustrated. Guardiola understands better than most how small margins can define a title race. He had been desperate for a response after the draw at Sunderland and Arsenal’s victory at Bournemouth, but failure to deliver left City six points behind. The gap is not decisive, but it is troubling.
The defining subplot was McFarlane’s baptism of fire against his former mentor. Once a youth coach at City, he downplayed the personal angle beforehand, insisting it was about the magnitude of the fixture itself. Still, the contrast was stark: experience versus inexperience. When McFarlane joined Chelsea from Southampton last summer, this scenario would have seemed unimaginable.
Guardiola deployed Tijjani Reijnders on the left of a four-man midfield but instructed him to drift inside, with Nico O’Reilly advancing from left-back to provide width. The effect was a heavy central overload. Chelsea began with Palmer positioned to the right of a midfield trio, though he frequently operated furthest forward.
Chelsea began aggressively, bringing intensity and physicality. Captain Reece James, operating deep in midfield, led the charge, clearly intent on compensating for the absence of the suspended Moisés Caicedo. There was even an early opening for Estêvão Willian after a low cross from Pedro Neto, though Josko Gvardiol blocked the effort.
As half-time approached, City raised the tempo, driven by Rodri’s influence on his first league start in three months. Phil Foden threatened early, but it was a slick Rodri pass and Foden flick-on that sent Erling Haaland through and signalled City’s growing dominance.
Haaland’s deflected effort forced a sharp one-handed save from Filip Jörgensen, deputising for the injured Robert Sánchez. Moments later, Haaland curled another shot that struck the inside of the far post after cutting in from the right.
Chelsea’s resistance finally cracked before the interval. A loose exchange in midfield allowed City to regain possession, Benoît Badiashile failed to clear convincingly, and Reijnders pounced. He teased Badiashile, rolled the ball onto his studs, and smashed a powerful finish inside the near post, leaving Jörgensen helpless.
McFarlane responded with changes. Andrey Santos came into midfield, giving Fernández more freedom. Palmer shifted wider to the right, while Gusto switched flanks and pushed forward. Chelsea soon created a clear chance as Fernández spun elegantly before setting up Neto, who blazed over the bar.
City sought a second goal. Haaland was blocked by Badiashile, Bernardo Silva by substitute Jorrel Hato. Yet Chelsea remained alive in the contest. Delap outmuscled Abdukodir Khusanov and forced Donnarumma into a save from a tight angle, a warning of what was to come.
When the equaliser arrived, it felt inevitable. Fernández wheeled away into the arms of the travelling Chelsea supporters, his goal echoing far beyond the stadium—felt just as keenly in the title race unfolding elsewhere.
