Inside return to form of Chelsea’s ‘fantastic’ James

Reece James stole the show in the middle of the pitch, where Moises Caicedo and Declan Rice were supposed to play midfield, but it was Moises Caicedo and Declan Rice did the opposite.

The Chelsea captain has been forced into midfield by Romeo Lavia’s persistent injury issues, which makes him typically a right-back. In the 1-1 draw at Stamford Bridge, James and Caicedo sat next to each other.

Chelsea won the opening match 2-0, but the momentum lost when Caicedo was sent off for a late lunge on Mikel Merino in the 38th minute.

Alejandro Garnacho was introduced at half-time by Maresca, Fernandez slipping further along with James.

James crossed for Joao Pedro’s close-range effort moments after the restart. Trevoh Chalobah looped a header over David Raya from a corner to start the scoring.

Even though Chelsea was a man down, Merino scored with a far post header 11 minutes later while James kept the game alive and equaled the Premier League leaders with a man advantage through his physicality in midfield.

Maresca, who added that the 25-year-old has a history of injury issues, would need to think about using him against Leeds in midweek, said: “Reece was fantastic, he was] top, very good.

“We have a game on Wednesday,” the manager said. We need to control him, manage his situation, and control his situation in some small ways. But he did a great job tonight.

Chelsea thinks James has overcome the persistent hamstring issues that have plagued his career in recent years, and that the change is not accidental.

The key is Maresca’s disciplined selection process, performance director Bryce Cavanagh and medical director Craig Roberts, both of whom have led the club’s medical department.

To keep players healthy long-term, they have combined to implement stricter load management and closer player monitoring.

James was asked by BBC Sport how he managed to stay injury-free for more than a year last month: “Many people behind the scenes are helping me – they know who they are. I have a close relationship with someone at the club. He has played a significant role in keeping me on the pitch.

Chelsea’s analysis team also plays a crucial role, monitoring player data to facilitate high-intensity football while reducing the risk of injury. After going from having one of the worst injuries in the Premier League to having one of the best, the team was viewed as a success last year at Stamford Bridge.

Like Wesley Fofana and Romeo Lavia, James was only allowed to play one game per week last year. Without any need to lower their physical output on the pitch, James and Fofana have both been healthy and cleared to play two or three games this year.

Maresca claimed James would likely take a step too far by starting a fourth game in a row at Leeds.

He has already made a significant impact this week, playing for the full 90 minutes against Arsenal, for the 82-minutes against Barcelona in the 3-0 win over Barcelona, and for the first half of the Burnley victory with a 2-0 victory over the weekend.

The Chelsea captain also made his 200th appearance against Nottingham Forest last month, marking his first appearance in more than two years, with only one international break in between.

After Chelsea and Arsenal drew 1-1, James was questioned by Sky Sports about whether his team had made a statement. His understated response read, “I believe everyone can see our goals and objectives.” Today made a significant statement, in my opinion. There are many advantages to taking, even if we wanted to win.

That composed authority reflects the evolution of Chelsea captain James. Mauricio Pochettino gave James the armband after Cesar Azpilicueta left in 2023. However, the Italian asserted his desire for more in Enzo Maresca’s time and even confided it to James in a one-on-one meeting.

Maresca has been impressed by the response since then, both publicly and privately.

Without a lot of words, James is a quiet, introverted man who avoids the pitch. He instead uses thoughtfulness to lead.

He frequently leads by example, leaning on vice-captain Fernandez as the “aggressive leader,” and he encourages players to sit down for quiet words, arranges team meals during difficult times, and uses vice-captain Fernandez as what one source refers to as the “aggressive leader.”

However, James has also been seen urging Estevao Willian’s teenage winger to do more aggressive things this season in the September game against Brighton, where he claims he helped him get used to English football.

A small gesture that strengthens unity that was lacking during Chelsea’s rebuilding has also been made, where the entire squad gathers in the center circle before leaving the pitch together.

The captain of Chelsea looks for inspiration beyond the field. Lewis Hamilton, the driver, and Siya Kolisi, the rugby union skipper of South Africa, have become close friends.

England’s World Cup year is in good hands with that personal development. James was first elevated to a new level at Stamford Bridge by former England manager Thomas Tuchel, who won the Champions League in 2021.

James hasn’t played for England since 2022, but Tuchel recalled him in March. Following disappointment that the 2022 World Cup was canceled due to injury and the non-selection of Euro 2024, it was a significant moment.