Chelsea

That's all from Calum McFarlane. Here's a recap of what he said:

• Reece James, Levi Colwill, Pedro Neto, Alejandro Garnacho and Robert Sanchez have all had 'positive' weeks and are expected to be in contention to play in Saturday's FA Cup final.
• The caretaker boss is aware of rumours surrounding Chelsea's next permanent manager - mainly Xabi Alonso - but insisted that his priority lies with this weekend's match.
• McFarlane defended Cole Palmer, and spoke highly of Joao Pedro, who he says has 'settled' in to the number nine position for the Blues.
• McFarlane's girlfriend and her family are big Chelsea fans and are 'proud' of the work he is doing.
• Chelsea haven't beat Manchester City since 2021, but McFarlane is confident that his side can beat anybody if they play at their best.

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Chelsea

Chelsea caretaker manager Calum McFarlane on Saturday's opponents, who the Blues have failed to beat since 2021: "They [the players] have got the belief they can beat anyone. 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, so they're going to be a challenge, but we also have some really good players, and these players have shown that if they're at their best, they can beat anyone."

Chelsea

Some more positive team news from Chelsea caretaker manager Calum McFarlane: "It's the same news on Robert Sanchez as the other lads. Really positive, and we are really hopeful looking in to Saturday."

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Chelsea

Chelsea caretaker manager Calum McFarlane was asked about the response of the leadership group in his squad during an 'uneasy' period at Stamford Bridge: "I've actually been happy with the way the whole group's responded. Players in the squad, players out the squad, the level of professionalism has been shown at all times.

"There's obviously players with great experience in there that have played in big competitions and had big moments in their career; you want their opinion, you want how they feel about the game, you want to have that dialogue with those players. I have that with pretty much the whole squad, so I'm happy with the whole squad."

We want to know your predictions for the weekend.

Can Chelsea come away from Wembley with their ninth FA Cup trophy?

Or will 2023 winners Manchester City be victorious again?

And which players do you think will have a decisive role to play?

Let us know your thoughts by clicking 'Get Involved' at the top of this page.

Chelsea have played in 16 FA Cup finals, winning eight and losing eight.

FA Cup winners: 1969/1970, 1996/1997, 1999/2000, 2006/2007, 2008/2009, 2009/2010, 2011/2012, 2017/2018

FA Cup runners-up: 1914/1915 (Sheffield United), 1966/1967 (Spurs), 1993/1994 (Man Utd), 2001/2002 (Arsenal), 2016/2017 (Arsenal), 2019/2020 (Arsenal), 2020/2021 (Leicester City), 2021/2022 (Liverpool)

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Chelsea

Chelsea caretaker manager Calum McFarlane was asked what the occasion will mean to him: "My girlfriend's family are Chelsea fans, not my family... Well, they are my family, to be fair. I shouldn't say that, should I? But yes, they are Chelsea fans. Her dad and uncles have been season ticket holders for 50 years, and she's a massive Chelsea fan. They will be at the game. They're very proud.

"It means a lot to all Chelsea fans. It's a massive game, and I hope we can put in a performance for all the fans."

On the emotions he is expecting to feel on Saturday: "Probably all of them. I can't tell you exactly how I will feel on the day, but I am trying to take it as normally as possible.

"I have managed a few games at this level; not of this magnitude, of course, but I will try and stay as level as possible, and the process will stay the same."

Chelsea

Chelsea caretaker manager Calum McFarlane was asked about Cole Palmer, who has struggled for form this season: "I think he's had some really good games for us this year. He's had a lot of injuries that he's had to deal with. I was really pleased with Cole on Saturday. I thought he had moments where he showed his level and his quality. So really hopeful that Cole can produce that from now to the end of the season. He's a top player, and he's proved that many times."

McFarlane also spoke highly on Joao Pedro: "He has had a great year and played many different positions, but he seems to have settled into that number nine role, and he's got everything you'd want from a top number nine. It's a big summer coming up for him with the World Cup with Brazil, but he's been excellent for Chelsea, and hopefully we continue that for the last three games."

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Chelsea

Chelsea caretaker manager Calum McFarlane was asked about managers who have been linked with a move to Stamford Bridge, particularly Xabi Alonso: "There's a lot of names linked with the job. It's not really my place to say who should get it, or who's a good manager, who's not a good manager. My job is to prepare the team for Saturday and that's all I'll be focusing on."

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Chelsea

Chelsea caretaker manager Calum McFarlane provided a team news update ahead of Saturday's FA Cup final against Manchester City: "Reece James trained well this week, happy with him. Good he got some minutes, and I thought he did well when he came on as well. Largely happy with Reece. We are hopeful he can finish the season in this form.

"It's a similar story with Levi Colwill; he had a really good rehab. A really good training week, and we're really hopeful."

McFarlane was asked about their prospects of playing for England, but the manager was largely focused on Chelsea.

Elsewhere, McFarlane added, "Pedro Neto and Alejandro Garnacho have trained really well this week. All positive signs.

Chelsea have an impressive record in European compeititon in recent years, but that has certainly not translated to domestic competition.

The Blues' last win in a domestic cup final came against Manchester United in the 2018 FA Cup final. Since then, the club have lost all six of their domestic cup finals, consisting of three losses in both the FA Cup and the EFL Cup - the first of which came against Manchester City, in February 2019.

A victory for the Blues would also break a 13-match winless streak against the Manchster Club. The last time Chelsea defeated Pep Guardiola's side? The Champions League final in 2021.

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Chelsea

"City are an exceptional side with an exceptional coach," McFarlane says.

But his team believe that they can beat anyone.

We'll be bringing you the full quotes from McFarlane's FA Cup news conference soon.

Chelsea

McFarlane reveals that his girlfriend's family are Chelsea fans.

He says he'll be very proud to manage Chelsea in the final on Saturday and that it means a lot to him.

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Chelsea

As predicted, a reporter asks McFarlane about Xabi Alonso amid talk that Chelsea are considering bringing him in as the Blues' next manager.

And as predicted, McFarlane bats the question away.

Full quotes to follow.

Chelsea

First up, a bit of team news.

Levi Colwill and Reece James are both fit.

McFarlane was asked questions about each player's England prospect - but would not be drawn on either.

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Chelsea manager Calum McFarlane has sat down to share his thoughts with his media before Saturday's final.

Stay tuned to find out what he has to say.

Aside from the obvious questions relating to the FA Cup, and Saturday's opponents, Chelsea intertim boss Callum McFarlane could also get asked about Xabi Alonso in his upcoming news conference.

The rumours suggest that Chelsea are working on a deal to appoint the former Real Madrid and Bayer Leverkusen manager, with some news outlets claiming that Alonso would be open to coming to Stamford Bridge.

Unfortunately, it is unlikely that McFarlane will give the media any of the answers they want to hear on the matter.

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So, is Saturday the day when Chelsea put an end to their sorry run of FA Cup final defeats?

Let's take a vote.

Thumbs up if you think the London side will win, thumbs down if the trophy's going to Manchester.