Jamie Carragher believes that the manner of the goal Chelsea conceded against Newcastle showed why Enzo Maresca is concerned by Reece James’ leadership.
The Blues boss made the surprising comments about his captain following his first start of the season – the 2-1 defeat by Liverpool earlier this month – after weeks on the sidelines with injury.
Maresca told reporters that he ‘expects more’ from the 24-year-old in terms of leadership in the dressing room and revealed that he has spoken to the full back about it.
Chelsea bounced back from their spirited defeat at Anfield to beat the Magpies at Stamford Bridge on Sunday, but Carragher believes that Newcastle’s goal proved Maresca’s point.
‘I can imagine [Enzo] Maresca looking at that and saying, “That’s what I mean by Reece James”,’ said the former Liverpool defender, who was speaking on The Overlap Fan Debate, brought to you by Sky Bet.
He didn’t scream, he didn’t shout – we know he’s a brilliant player, but he’s [Enzo] probably gone into that club thinking, “I don’t know too much about him, I’ve heard about him, I’ve heard he’s a great player”.’
James completed his first 90 minutes in the Premier League in 18 months against Newcastle, as the west London club moved up to fifth and a point behind Arsenal and Aston Villa who the last two Champions League places.
The England international was appointed captain by Mauricio Pochettino at the beginning of last season following the departure of Cesar Azpilicueta but he has only been able to lead his boyhood club on seven occasions in the league since then due to injury.
Paul Scholes insisted that James doesn’t carry himself like the team’s skipper and even went as far to say the full back appears shy.
The captain’s role is quite important,’ said Scholes, who was speaking on The Overlap Fan Debate, brought to you by Sky Bet. ‘We had some unbelievable captains at Manchester United. Bryan Robson is someone you look up to with the stature, the presence, he looks after his players. Roy Keane – these types of players.
You look at Arsenal, you look at the great captains – Tony Adams, Chelsea – John Terry, Liverpool – Steven Gerrard. All the big characters in the team, it’s important for these young players to look up to that.
‘Reece James doesn’t look like a captain to me. He seems very quiet and shy. You can be captain like that but he’s just not the character that you’d expect for a club the size as Chelsea football club.
