‘I don’t think we have a proper leader’ — Chelsea boss Maresca calls out captain Reece James
i

Chelsea captain Reece James and Cole Palmer | Imago

‘I don’t think we have a proper leader’ — Chelsea boss Maresca calls out captain Reece James

Ayoola Kelechi 13:25 - 26.10.2024

Enzo Maresca has called out club captain Reece James' leadership ability ahead of Chelsea's game against Newcastle

Chelsea head coach Enzo Maresca has publicly challenged club captain Reece James to elevate his leadership, stating he "expected more" from the 24-year-old defender.

Maresca questions James’ leadership

In comments ahead of Chelsea’s upcoming clash with Newcastle, Maresca was forthright about his expectations for James, stating that, as captain, he must "give more than the rest" to inspire those around him.

Chelsea's Enzo Maresca against West Ham | Imago

Reflecting on private conversations, Maresca shared, "Reece is on the way, he’s progressing, but from him, and as his teammates expect, I hoped for more leadership."

He stressed that James has the support of the club but must show greater resilience and influence in the dressing room.

Chelsea captain Reece James has returned from injury (Credit: Imago)

James’s availability remains a concern for Chelsea, as his injury record has prompted the coaching staff to manage his playing time cautiously.

Reece James has struggled with injuries over the past 3 seasons | Premier League Image

Following his return against Liverpool, where he played just under an hour, Chelsea has limited James’s appearances to once a week to help him regain full fitness gradually.

Maresca exposes lack of leadership in Chelsea squad

With limited options for natural leaders, Maresca noted Chelsea’s need to foster leadership qualities within the squad.

Chelsea new boss Enzo Maresca wanted Osimhen. (Credit: Imago)

Speaking ahead of Chelsea’s game against Newcastle, Maresca said, ‘When you don’t have a proper leader, you need to build that. I think we don’t have a proper leader. Probably Tosin [Adarabioyo] is one of the guys that is. The rest, we need to build them.

'Reece is there, he’s on the way but he’s not there. He needs to make an effort in that one. Levi [Colwill] probably at the beginning of the season was not a leader but now you can see that he is one of the guys that is always speaking. We need to build that.”

Levi Colwill || Credit: Imago

After their mid-week win over Panathinaikos in the UEFA Europa Conference League, Chelsea will take on Newcastle in the Premier League, hoping to push for a place in the top four.

Tags: