England manager Thomas Tuchel has become the last figure that interrogated Enzo Maresca’s decision to use Reece James in the midfield.
James, deployed in the role of the right in which it is 3-0 victory over Latvia On Monday, impressive on a hybrid role that gave him a good number of opportunities to derive on the pitch.
Being used in its favored position has been a rarity for James in recent weeks, as Blues Enzo Maresca manager has publicly insisted Comes the club’s captain as a midfielder than a right to the right. The legendary ex-cut-back John Terry has Publicly challenged this verdict.
After Latvia’s game, Tuchel acknowledged James’ immense technical capacity, but as Terry, he insisted that he should remain on the right.
Asked if he ever considered using James in the midfield at ChelseaTuchel said, “Very, very rarely with Chelsea. If you play a dominant game like today, a hybrid midfielder may be in the last 20 minutes where he comes from the left or right position and helps in the midfield to create an overload because he has the quality of the ball to accelerate with his passes, to play chip balls, to change sideways.
“He is very confident. If it is an open game and there are many transitions in the midfield, I am not so safe if it would be best for him.
“There is no doubt about the quality of reece in itself. It is the highest level. We have been in close contact in recent weeks and we were sure that it formed for weeks. When he did not play it was the election of the club to protect it. We knew it was in good shape.”
James, who has lost a total of 50 games for the last 18 months due to injury, insisted that he had no preference when he was his position and that he was simply happy to return to the pitch.
“Football is football for me,” he said.
“As I said, I have set myself out for so long. If I play in the midfield, if I play right, I have work to try to help the team and act to the maximum of my ability.”
