How Maresca masterstroke could SAVE Reece James’ Chelsea career

Enzo Maresca has spoken on the future of Reece James at Chelsea after the Blues skipper netted in his side’s Europa Conference League first leg knockout win over Copenhagen.

Chelsea maintained their 100% record in the competition with Enzo Fernandez providing the winner after James had opened the scoring with a low drive from 25 yards.

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While Chelsea would have been delighted with James scoring and also completing 90 minutes for just the fourth time this season, his display was particularly pleasing to Maresca who opted to play his captain in midfield instead of his usual right-back role.

James played alongside Fernandez in a double pivot and Maresca admitted after the game that he had envisioned the 25-year-old playing in that role ‘since day one’.

Maresca said: “The day after I signed for Chelsea, I sent him a video and I told him since day one I have seen him as a midfielder. Before I even met him, I sent him a clip showing he could play in midfield.

“When you watch a player, you have to use a little bit of imagination. I always imagined him as a midfielder. I watched his games when he was on loan at Wigan, and I saw he scored a fantastic goal from 25 yards as a midfielder. The best thing from Reece is he is helping the team and improving as a leader.”

James rolls back the years in midfield cameo

The vast majority of James’ career has been spent playing down the right flank as a full-back or wing-back, although he has also often featured as a centre-back in a back three.

However, the England international had his breakout season on loan at Wigan in the 2018/19 season where he also deputised at centre midfield for large portions of the campaign.

It is perhaps a suitable change for James, not just to utilise his passing and technical ability but also to avoid him bursting down the wing and potentially suffering an injury, having struggled with fitness issues throughout his career.

Instead, James was given the opportunity to dictate the game in Denmark and the Blues captain duly delivered, completing 77 of his 78 passes and putting in an assured display that could see him rejuvenate his career after year-on-year of injury turmoil.