October 25th 2024.
It was a new era at Stamford Bridge when Enzo Maresca took over as the manager of Chelsea in July. As with any change in leadership, there were expectations and Maresca was not shy about expressing them. In particular, he had hoped for more from Reece James, who had been named Chelsea captain before the start of the previous season. However, James had missed the first few months of the current season due to a hamstring injury.
The 24-year-old defender made a comeback in last weekend's game against Liverpool, impressing Maresca with his performance for 53 minutes before being substituted off. However, the manager felt that James could have done more in terms of leadership, both on and off the field. "I spoke with him and I expected from him more in terms of leadership, inside the changing room and for different kinds of things," Maresca shared.
He went on to explain that being a captain comes with added responsibilities, and it was important for James to step up and lead by example. "For me, because you are the captain, you have to give more. You have to give more than the rest," Maresca emphasized. He also pointed out that sometimes, players who are given the captain's armband tend to become complacent, thinking that their title alone is enough. But for Maresca, being a captain means constantly striving to do more for the team.
Maresca acknowledged that James is a reserved person, but he believed that leadership skills can be developed and nurtured. He mentioned that one player who has shown great progress in this aspect is Levi Colwill, who was not a leader at the beginning of the season but has now become one of the most vocal players in the team. Maresca also noted the importance of age and experience in developing strong leadership qualities, and he hopes that in a few years, many of the players at Chelsea will have grown into great leaders.
In the meantime, Maresca and his coaching staff will continue to guide and support the players, not just in football skills but also in developing their leadership abilities. James, who was rested for Chelsea's Europa League match on Thursday, is expected to feature in their upcoming Premier League game against Newcastle United on Sunday. The right-back has been a key player for Chelsea since breaking into the first team in 2019, but his progress has been hindered by injuries.
As Maresca works towards building a strong and cohesive team, he knows that having proper leaders is crucial. He believes that players like Marc Cucurella and Tosin Adarabioyo have the potential to become great leaders, and with their help, the rest of the team can also grow in this aspect. Maresca is determined to create a team that not only excels on the field but also has strong leaders who can guide and inspire their teammates to reach their full potential.
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