Callum MacFarlane to stay on Xabi Alonso's staff

Chelsea's interim head coach, Callum MacFarlane, is set to remain on the staff under the club's new manager, Xabi Alonso, according to Sky Sports.

Spanish tactician Alonso was appointed to the managerial role at the London club on Sunday, following the Blues' FA Cup final defeat. MacFarlane will lead the team for their two remaining Premier League fixtures against Tottenham and Sunderland. This season, the 40-year-old Englishman has twice taken the helm at Chelsea – once after Enzo Maresca's dismissal in January and again in April when Liam Rossinier departed the club.

When asked about his future ahead of Chelsea's match against Tottenham, MacFarlane responded: “I haven't thought about it yet. There's so much we need to prepare for. We have something to play for and questions to answer, but my focus is always on the next game and the next training session.”

“He (Xabi Alonso) messaged me yesterday. I'll keep it private, but we mainly discussed the (FA Cup) final. We exchanged a few messages. This is very exciting news. He has immense talent. I'm incredibly excited for this club. We can't wait to work with him. It doesn't surprise me; Chelsea is a massive club. We have many exciting players coming here. Although it's been a disappointing season, they've shown glimpses of the quality we possess this year. This is a huge club and will always attract top players and top managers,” MacFarlane added.

Chelsea currently sits tenth in the Premier League with 49 points, four points adrift of a Europa League spot and two points behind eighth place, which offers a Conference League berth, with a game in hand over their rivals.