In a candid interview, Chelsea manager Enzo Maresca has revealed that he believes the reigning Premier League champions are lacking a true leader within the dressing room, and is placing a great deal of pressure on captain Reece James to step up and fill the void.
James, who returned from injury last weekend to start and captain the side in the 2-1 defeat to Liverpool, is expected to retain his place in the side when Chelsea host Newcastle United at Stamford Bridge on Sunday. However, Maresca was scathing in his assessment of the 22-year-old’s leadership qualities, suggesting that he must work harder to assert himself as a proper leader.
“I spoke with him and I expect more from him in terms of leadership inside the changing room,” Maresca said. “He’s on the way, he’s doing well, he’s progressing but I expect more. Most of the time, a player thinks that ‘because I am captain I expect that you [the manager] give me more’. No, for me because you are the captain you have to give more. You have to give more than the rest.”
The Italian coach believes that James, who is seen as one of the brightest young talents to emerge from the club’s academy, has a crucial role to play in inspiring his teammates and setting an example on and off the pitch. He highlighted the need for James to be more assertive and demanding, citing his reserved nature as a potential obstacle in his development as a leader.
“He’s a reserved guy. But when you don’t have a proper leader, you need to build that. I think we don’t have a proper leader. We need to build them,” Maresca said. “Reece is one who is on the way but he’s not there. He needs to make an effort. We’ll see how it goes, but it’s a big challenge for him and for all of us.”
Chelsea will hope that his words of wisdom will have a galvanizing effect on their star player, and that the team will be able to gel and find their form in the days ahead. With a midweek Champions League victory over Panathinaikos to draw a line under a difficult start to the season, Maresca’s words offer a stark reminder of the high expectations that surround this talented but stuttering side.
