Enzo Maresca says Reece James is improving as a leader after admitting earlier in the season that he expected more from Chelsea ’s captain. In October Maresca told “reserved guy” James to show more personality in the dressing room – only for the captain to be sidelined with a new hamstring injury a fortnight later. And while Chelsea are determined to not push him too hard for fear of a recurrence, Maresca says the full back’s return is timely for a team without a league win in more than a month.
James came off the bench to rescue a last-gasp draw against Bournemouth last Tuesday - his first time scoring since August 2022. And Maresca, whose team host Wolves tomorrow night, said of having his skipper back: “It’s important but in his mind he can be more important.
“In general Reece is one of the most important players for us because he is the captain. We know since we started with him that having him always fit, fit, fit is better. But we try to adapt. Now he’s back and we’re happy. And he’s improving in that [leadership] aspect.”.
Yet Maresca does not feel his squad, by some distance the youngest in the league, has a wider issue with controlling games. The Bournemouth draw was the latest example of Chelsea taking a first-half lead only to allow their opponents a route back in. Fulham came from behind to win on Boxing Day, while Crystal Palace fought back to claim a point two weeks ago and Brentford were close to stealing a draw after going a goal down last month.
