Enzo Maresca Calls for Stronger Leadership from Captain James

Enzo Maresca, Chelsea manager has called for increased leadership from captain Reece James following his return from injury. The right-back made his first start since December 2023 in a 2-1 loss to Liverpool after recovering from hamstring surgery. Maresca emphasized the importance of James stepping up as a leader, stating, “I expect more from him in terms of leadership inside the changing room.”

Maresca stressed that being captain comes with higher expectations, asserting that James needs to contribute more than his teammates. “For me, because you are the captain, you have to give more,” he said. The manager’s comments underline the need for James to take on a more commanding presence as Chelsea looks to improve. At just 24, James has progressed from Chelsea’s academy to the captaincy.

He received this role from former manager Mauricio Pochettino before the start of the 2023-24 season. However, last season was challenging for him due to injuries, limiting him to only 11 appearances. Now, under Maresca’s leadership, James has the opportunity to solidify his role within the team. Maresca noted that while James is improving, he must develop his personality as a leader especially since the team currently lacks a strong guiding figure.

“He’s understanding that we’re expecting more from him,” Enzo Maresca added, highlighting James’s status as a homegrown player. “He’s a reserved guy, but when you don’t have a proper leader, you need to build that.” While James is on the right track, Maresca insists he needs to put in extra effort to fully embrace his leadership responsibilities and help guide the team forward.