Reece James: Chelsea’s great all-rounder
Reece James has developed into the perfect midfielder for Enzo Maresca’s Chelsea system, as demonstrated by his performance against Liverpool.
Sunday should have been the stuff of Reece James’ nightmares. Up against the Premier League leaders, Chelsea were reduced to 10 men by Moisés Caicedo’s mindless red card after 38 minutes. James was left to face arguably the most fearsome midfield unit in English football on his own.
In these challenging circumstances, though, James showed his quality. Up against Declan Rice, Martin Zubimendi and Eberechi Eze, the Chelsea captain did the work of two players to make up for Caicedo’s dismissal and proved that his transformation into the perfect midfielder for Enzo Maresca’s system is complete.
At first, Maresca’s decision to use James in the centre of the pitch was questioned. Previously seen as one of the most gifted right backs of his generation, Chelsea fans wanted him to be used in his best position rather than in midfield where the Blues already had a number of other options.
Over time, though, James has acclimatised to his new role and his performance against Arsenal on Sunday showcased everything the 25-year-old brings to the position. On both sides of the ball, the Chelsea captain gave his team what they needed to secure a positive result against the table-toppers.
In possession, Trevoh Chalobah and Wesley Fofana were the only outfield Chelsea players to register more touches than James. He tallied five passes into the final third and created two chances. James was a rhythm-building influence in the centre of the pitch and kept Chelsea on the front foot even after going down to 10 men.
It was out of possession, however, where James truly made the biggest impact on the game. The 25-year-old was a force of nature in the way he continually pressed Arsenal in their own half, preventing the Gunners from playing through Chelsea even after Caicedo’s sending off. It was a superhuman effort.
“Reece has been fantastic, [he was] top, very good,” said Maresca when asked about James’ performance in the 1-1 draw against Arsenal which kept Chelsea in the title picture. “Now, we have a game on Wednesday. We need to manage him, we need to control him, we need to control a little bit his situation. But he was very good tonight.”
Maresca is right to be cautious about James’ workload and the minutes he is playing. Talent has never been the Chelsea’s captain issue. Instead, his fitness and a series of injuries have kept him from fulfilling the potential he demonstrated earlier in his career. This is what has held James back.
Having started nine Premier League matches so far this season, James is currently enjoying his best run in the Chelsea team for a long time. And yet there’s good reason for Maresca to manage the minutes of his captain. The Blues need James as a central pillar to have a successful 2025/26 season.
Chelsea are a work-in-progress. Sunday’s draw against Arsenal proved they can compete against the best, as did the comprehensive 3-0 win over Barcelona in the Champions League before that, but the Blues are a young team. They still lack the consistency to sustain a challenge over a full campaign.
The potential of youngsters like Estêvão and Alejandro Garnacho is clear. Cole Palmer is one of the most prolific creators in the European game. Caicedo is an elite level two-way midfielder, despite his sending off on Sunday. Enzo Fernández is improving all the time as someone who can impact a game higher up the pitch.
James, however, is an all-rounder like no other in the Chelsea squad. He can do everything. He is defensively sound. He increasingly understands his role as a possession progressor at the base of the midfield. He is an excellent crosser. James is even comfortable carrying the ball at his feet.
Great Chelsea teams of the past were defined by great players. Load-bearing players. Players like John Terry and Frank Lampard and Didier Drogba who could be counted on to deliver no matter the circumstances. James is one such figure for the present day Chelsea team. He is earning his place alongside some legendary Blues.
Of course, it will take some silverware for James to truly be seen in the same light as Terry, Lampard or Drogba. James is already a Champions League and Conference League winner and was part of the Chelsea side that lifted the Club World Cup during the summer, but the Stamford Bridge club wants to become a dominant force on all fronts.
While Sunday’s game against Arsenal didn’t result in a win, it hinted at the potential of the team Chelsea is developing. At the heart of that team is a player who has had to learn on the job, but is now finished learning. James was one of the best right backs of his generation and now he’s one of the best midfielders.
(Cover image from IMAGO)
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