It was the last season that the injury issues were just behind him. Reece James returned against Bournemouth in the Premier League clash. Chelsea was in a great crisis that started in December, and they were losing against Bournemouth.
It seemed like Chelsea was slipping the points again, but Marseca had an option on the bench; he had introduced Recce James in the game. James has just returned from the injury, and he has been available to play.
The club was struggling, but then Reece James took care of the free kick at the end of the match and scored in stoppage time. It was an equaliser that meant so much for Chelsea. Chelsea were celebrating, and the crisis was close to its end. Soon, Chelsea returned with good results.
It was 2:2 at the end, but it was so important for Chelsea and Recce
The captain scored the free kick and avoided losing. Chelsea started to play well again and started breathing.
Maresca was so happy with his captain, who was finally back on the pitch after an injury. It was an important moment for Chelsea and his captain. A special moment was delivered for a Chelsea captain with a late equaliser that was so important for the club, which was struggling at the time.
That free kick has turned the team around. The situation has started to improve.
The chemistry and relationship between Maresca and Reece James have been great. Maresca had great confidence in him, playing his time wisely and reducing his playing time to avoid potential injuries.
Recce James position under Maresca
Maresca has used Reece James smartly, deploying his time at right-back and rotating him with Malo Gusto. In this way, he has helped the captain to be injury-free, fresh and relaxed in his playing at Chelsea. He was ready for many Chelsea games and had a great impact on the pitch with important goals and many great crosses.
He has scored two goals this season and made three assists. He has then abandoned his primary position at the right back and has been moved to the midfield as part of his tactical view and innovations, and preferences.
Midfielder potential
Maresca has seen his strong ball control, the finesse and dominance of the ball at his feet, his runs and positioning as a perfect addition to his midfield line. He has been using James away from his role and the right-back position; now, Maresca has provided him with another great midfielder.
He is bringing the security to the team, and the player who can combine with good pace, passing and dictating the rhythm and great running.
The Maresca idea was to have a player who plays well with passes and is strong on his feet. Now Marseca has a secure midfielder who is passing well and controlling the midfield.
In this way, he has a secure midfielder who can run very much, has stability, is good and is making extremely few mistakes with the ball. In this way, he has secured himself a stable midfielder who is leading the midfield.
Can play a defensive role behind Caisedo and can run and press very well. Also very important in transition and game structure, and building.
So Chelsea now has a double midfield block. Enzo Maresca now has a perfect midfield with Casideo and James covering the defensive positions and recovering the ball.
Recce James- players characteristics
Recce James, playing in midfield, is covering behind Caisedo and has two secure options in midfield. This is a tactic against great teams and big games.
Reece is also great at passing, and this new position in midfield gives him much more space since he is not running as close as he was running in his right back position. He also has calmness and is a true Chelsea leader and the captain.
The chemistry between James and Maresca is so great, and Maresca has full confidence in him.
He influences the game massively with a free-kick regular taker tactic, with runs, clearances, and crosses. Also, his influence on Chelsea in transition is so great. His runs, closures and experience make him so great and make this Chelsea team so great. He is strong and mature.
His influence in the middle was less visible in the victory against Barcelona when he was playing with regular midfielder Caicedo, but was completely visible against Arsenal.
When Caicedo was sent off, he had been a crucial player dictating the tempo in the middle. With his runs and passing, Reece James has been controlling Chelsea’s game tempo, rhythm and times of defending and attacking. He was so great at delivering passes and being a crucial player on the pitch.
Maresca will now also use Malo Gusto in the midfielder position, with many unexpected tasks given and will also see Cucurella’s influence in midfield with his role in attack and also midfield.
Chelsea – dealing with injury tactics
Reece stayed fit all the time, and his availability in every game has also surprised Thomas Tuchel, the English national team manager, who has commented that he has been surprised by Reece James’ injury-free run with Chelsea and the English National Team.
It tells the exact situation in which Chelsea and Maresca were playing Reece James wisely, so he can stay free and avoid any new injuries. Chelsea’s strategy to wait until the players are fully fit to recover has shown its result, and we can see James away from any injuries.
This Chelsea is learning from its past mistakes from last season, when they were rushing the players to return from injury when they were not fully ready. That was very much visible on the list of injured players last season.
Chelsea is a club that is in growth and is dealing with problems and strategy.
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