Reece James has been making significant strides at Chelsea under the management of Enzo Maresca, displaying consistent performances as he adapts to a new midfield role. After three hard years much-maligned by injury, James is eager to have an impact on his new club. He can’t wait to represent the England national team again. His ambition is clear: he aims to play Champions League football next season and ultimately help lead England to World Cup glory.
The 23-year-old defender eased back into regular competition after battling through a gauntlet of injuries. Now, he’s freed up to show off that creativity on the pitch with confidence. His recent shift to midfield has been seamless, spilling over not only from his technical versatility but from the player’s versatility as a whole. James began his career in a progressive capacity. These days, he truly is at an impressive level as he continues to adapt to a new position as Chelsea’s tactics continue to shift and morph.
After missing the entire 2021 season, James is just appreciative to be back on the field.… He was excited to be a part of taking Chelsea from a low period back up to success. “It hasn’t had a negative effect, though,” he stated, reflecting on his time away from the game due to injuries. He reiterated the necessity of unity and collective purpose among the roster.
“When you have a lot of new players and staff, sometimes the meaning of the club can get lost in translation,” – Reece James
Even with these changes, James is confident that the core team is aligned in their goals. “Everyone is very much on the same page here. We all have the same objective,” he noted, indicating a strong sense of collective purpose amongst the players. He recognizes that while integration can be challenging, particularly with new cultures and languages, the current squad members have adapted well.
James’s story with Chelsea started long before he got loaned out to Wigan last season and impressed with the Latics, helping them avoid relegation. He looks back with great affection on fulfilling his childhood dream of playing for the club he grew up supporting. He enjoyed a successful loan spell at Wigan Athletic for the 2018-19 season. He attributes that experience with helping him to further develop as a player.
“I played various positions growing up in the academy. If you speak to most first-team players, the position they are playing in now is probably not the one they started off playing as a kid. I enjoy wherever I play on the pitch,” – Reece James
Yet his adaptability has served him well and served Chelsea well as they look to turn their disappointing fortunes around in an ever-improving league. The young star has recently celebrated scoring his first international goal for England during the international break, further solidifying his role within the national team setup.
Looking ahead to future contests, James is confident that England will be a formidable force in future tournaments. He is optimistic about the national team’s chances to do well in the World Cup. Their current shape and breadth of world-class talent truly supercharge their long-term potential.
“There are many sides to becoming a good player, being a good team-mate, becoming an all-round team,” – Reece James
As James notes, there’s a lot of intricacy to getting a truly unified team, particularly when bringing in new players and strategic approaches. He understands that various perspectives can complicate this process but remains confident that everyone is committed to achieving success together.
“There are a lot of pieces to the puzzle that people don’t see,” – Reece James
Here’s a glimpse into James’ personal journey. He tells me that though the physical hardships he endured through injury have defined him as a player, he welcomes that reality. “Eventually I will look back and say [the fitness challenges] helped me, but in the moment it is quite difficult,” he remarked. We see that resilience clearly, too, in plan to end this season on a strong note, while laying the groundwork for a new and better one ahead.
Looking ahead, James can barely contain himself when talking about how far Chelsea has come this season. Many of our alums can attest to that, but especially this season and learning as we’re learning right now. “It’s true that this year we have moved the ball. We’re having to fight and claw with arguably some of the better teams in the league,” he said.
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