Enzo Maresca revealed that playing Reece James in the midfield was part of his plan from the start, insisting that he told Chelsea captain that he saw him as a 6 from the moment he took care of.
James achieved a superb long-term goal while Chelsea won a 2-1 victory against Copenhagen in the first leg of the UEFA conference league on Thursday evening.
The captain of the Blues, generally deployed as a right back, played as a defensive midfielder for the whole match – a decision director, Maresca, insists that was part of a long -term vision of the international in England.
Maresca, speaking after the victory, revealed that he had always seen James as a midfielder and had planned to deploy him after one since he had taken care of at Stamford Bridge last summer.
“So you can ask Reece; When I signed with Chelsea, probably the next day, I sent him a video on seeing him as a midfielder, “said Maresca.
“I see Reece as a midfielder, not now – the first day. Before meeting him for the first time, he was on vacation and I sent him a clip of him playing in the midfield.
Enzo Maresca (photo above) revealed that playing Reece James in the midfield was part of his plan from the start
James delivered an astonishing long-term goal while Chelsea won a 2-1 victory against Copenhagen in the first leg of their league of the UEFA Larf-16 conference on Thursday evening
Maresca stressed that the main objective remains in shape, injuries that have hampered his progress in recent seasons
James, 25, has been a key figure in Chelsea since entering the first team in 2019 after a successful loan spell at Wigan Athletic.
Mainly known for its defensive solidity and its attacker prowess, James has generally been deployed as rear or rear.
However, his performance against Copenhagen has shown his ability to influence the midfielder’s match, which capped him with a goal that obtained a victory for his team in the first leg of the UEFA conference in the last match.
Maresca stressed that the main objective remains in shape, injuries that have hampered his progress in recent seasons.
The Chelsea captain has undergone several setbacks, lacking large parts of recent campaigns due to the problems of hamstrings and knee.
“The main target for us is to help him be in good shape all season,” added Maresca.
James made more than 118 Premier League appearances for Chelsea, winning the Champions League in 2021 and establishing himself as one of the club’s most important players.
Despite the difficulties of persistent injury, his capacity has never been in doubt and Maresca’s vision to deploy it in the midfield could change the situation for the club and the country.
However, the 25 -year -old seems to have overcome his physical problems, who often put him away in the first half of the season
Joe Cole revealed that he wanted to see James included in the England team
Chelsea will now turn their attention to the Premier League conflict on Sunday against Leicester City before welcoming Copenhagen on the second decisive floor next week at Stamford Bridge.
Meanwhile, Joe Cole called James to return to the England team following his strong performance against Copenhagen on Thursday.
“He will have respect for each Chelsea player because of what he can do technically and physically,” said Cole during the post-match analysis on TNT Sports. “When he was at his best, he was as good as anyone in the world, without a doubt.
“It’s just about finding your inner peace and managing it in games. He can play in the midfield, he did it when he was ready for Wigan and obtained the player of the year there as a young child. He looks comfortable there.
“He has so much to offer to Chelsea and so much to offer in England. It’s so great to see him have an impact on the game as he did this evening. Do not give up Reece James because there is always a real world class player who can be a massive player for Chelsea and England. I hope he can continue now.
James’ last appearance for the national team occurred in March 2023 against Italy, while the 25 -year -old has been fighting with injuries since then.
Meanwhile, Thomas Tuchel assesses his selection of the England team before friendly matches with Albania and Latvia on March 21 and 24, respectively.