The Chelsea boss thinks the club captain can compete with the playmaker for free-kick duties.
Enzo Maresca has lauded Reece James’s dead-ball prowess after the Chelsea captain rescued a point for the Blues against Bournemouth on Tuesday.
Chelsea vs Bournemouth
The West London club took an early lead through Cole Palmer's composed finish after brilliant hold-up play by Nicolas Jackson.
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Despite creating numerous chances and dominating the first half, the Blues were pegged back by Justin Kluivert's penalty for Bournemouth.
The visitors then took the lead through a fine strike by Antoine Semenyo, leaving Maresca’s men on the brink of defeat.
However, in the fifth minute of injury time, James stepped up to salvage a point for Chelsea with a dramatic late equaliser.
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Maresca lauds James’s impact
Although he was frustrated that his side needed an equaliser after a dominant opening half, Maresca extolled the returning club captain, comparing his expertise from free-kicks to Palmer.
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“I am very happy for him, he deserved that after a difficult moment,” Maresca said during his post-match press conference. “It also gave us the point so I am happy for him and I am happy for us.
“I am so happy for him that he had this moment and the target for him now is to be fit until the end [of the season] and for him to help us in the way we want to play.
“Reece can compare with Cole in terms of free-kicks because he is very good. We decided for Reece and he scored and we are all happy because at least we took a point.”
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08:00 - 15.01.2025
We should have won - James reflects on late free-kick in Chelsea's draw with Bournemouth
James' late intervention prevented a home defeat for Chelsea, but the draw extends their winless streak in the league to five games.
What next for Chelsea?
Without a Premier League win in five games, the Blues could fall to fifth if Newcastle United beat Wolverhampton Wanderers on Wedndesday.
Chelsea return to action against Wolves next Monday, keen to end a barren run without maximum points.
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