‘I don’t like it’ – John Terry says Enzo Maresca is completely wrong about Chelsea star
John Terry says he ‘doesn’t like’ Enzo Maresca’s assessment of Reece James and agrees with. Thomas Tuchel that the Chelsea captain should remain a defender.
James has hampere by a series of injury problems สมัคร UFABET วันนี้ รับเครดิตฟรีสำหรับสมาชิกใหม่ in recent seasons but, when fit, the 25-year-old is widely considere to be among the most complete right-backs in world football.
The England international’s’ versatility has, at times, proven invaluable at Chelsea, with the full-back infrequently covering central midfield and centre-back when calle upon.
While rising through the Blues’ youth ranks, James was deploye in a number of positions and made his breakthrough at Stamford Bridge after playing a starring role on loan at Wigan Athletic as an attack-minde midfielder.
But facing the media earlier this month, Maresca went a step further and suggeste James’ long-term future could lie in the middle of the park – something the Italian has felt ‘since day one’ as manager.
‘You can ask Reece, the day after I signe with Chelsea, I sent him a video about seeing him as a midfielder,’ Maresca told reporters ahead of his side’s 1-0 victory over Leicester.
‘I see Reece as a midfielder, not just now but since day one. Before I met him for the first time, when he was on holiday,. Sent him a clip of how he could play as a midfielder.
‘So I imagine him playing as a midfielder a long time ago. He is playing [there] now, but the good thing is this season he has playe as a full-back, a central defender, many positions, but the main target for us is to help him stay fit all season
An injury to Cole Palmer saw James start in midfield alongside Moises Caicedo against Arsenal last weekend and the Chelsea skipper was taske with man-marking Declan Rice.
But James badly struggle and was replace by Romeo Lavia in the closing stages of Chelsea’s 1-0 defeat, with Wayne Rooney among those to question Maresca’s bold selection at the Emirates.
Tuchel has rule out playing James in midfield for England’s upcoming World Cup qualifiers against Albania and Latvia, insisting his 2020/21 Champions League winner ‘is a player for the full-back and wing-back positions’ this week.
‘I agree with that [Tuchel’s assessment] see him as a defender,’ ex-Chelsea captain Terry told.
‘I don’t like it, to be honest, people drifting in [to midfield], I think it is more confusing.