'He Needs to Make an Effort' - Maresca Criticises James
Maresca acknowledged that James is naturally reserved but emphasized the need for strong leadership within the squad. "When you don't have a proper leader, you need to build that. I think we don't have a proper leader. We need to build them. Reece is one who is on the way, but he's not there yet. He needs to make an effort."
Chelsea manager Enzo Maresca has called for increased leadership from captain Reece James following the right-back's return from injury. After undergoing hamstring surgery, James made his first start since December 2023 in Chelsea's 2-1 loss to Liverpool on Sunday. Maresca emphasized the need for James to display more "personality" and leadership qualities on the pitch.
"I spoke with him, and I expect more from him in terms of leadership inside the changing room," Maresca said. "He's on the way; he's doing well and progressing, but I expect more." He pointed out that being captain should not be an excuse for complacency. "Most of the time, a player thinks that because I am captain, I expect that you [the manager] give me more. No, for me, because you are the captain, you have to give more. You have to give more than the rest."
James, 24, who rose through the Chelsea academy ranks and was appointed captain by Maresca’s predecessor, Mauricio Pochettino, prior to the 2023-24 season, faced significant injury setbacks last year, limiting him to just 11 appearances. Maresca, who took over from Pochettino in the summer, stressed the importance of James stepping up as a leader. "He's understanding that we're expecting more from him," he added. "He's our guy from the academy, and that's one of the reasons why he needs to show more in terms of personality."
As Chelsea seeks to find their footing this season, Maresca's expectations for James highlight the critical role leadership plays in the team's success.
