Reece James heeds brutally honest Enzo Maresca criticism as Chelsea U-turn speaks volumes

Enzo Maresca has praised Chelsea captain Reece James while discussing his side's progress this season.

The Italian coach has been in charge at Stamford Bridge since June last year, but one of the 45-year-old’s early observations centred on the English right-back. In October, just a few months into his tenure, he publicly challenged James and demanded more from his captain following his return from injury.

After his first appearance back from a long-term hamstring problem, a 2-1 defeat to Liverpool, Maresca urged the 25-year-old to show greater personality. “I spoke with him and I expect from him more in terms of leadership inside the changing room,” the manager said in a press conference at the time.

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“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. I expect it from Reece, and his team-mates expect it from him. To always give more in terms of leadership.”

It’s fair to say James has responded to the criticism emphatically, going on to make 32 appearances across all competitions last term, helping Chelsea to a top-four finish as well as Club World Cup success over the summer. Maresca has since described the defender as a 'real leader', with James forcing his boss to change his position.

This season, Maresca’s side have looked just as strong, sitting third in the table after 11 games - two points behind Manchester City in second and six adrift of league leaders Arsenal. The manager believes his team are heading in the right direction, and James was at the centre of his praise for the players.

“As a club, we’re going in the right direction,” he said in an . “He [James] has progressed a lot since I joined the club. Now he’s a real leader.

“You can see him on the pitch, off the pitch. He’s become a bit of a reference point for the other players.”

James is currently away on international duty with England, as his return to form and fitness earned him a recall to Thomas Tuchel’s squad.

The Chelsea defender was forced to withdraw from the camp during the October international break but will hope to play a role in the Three Lions’ upcoming World Cup qualifiers against Serbia and Albania.

Chelsea return to action later this month with tricky fixtures on the horizon, including the visit of Barcelona in the Champions League and Arsenal in the league. Maresca will hope his side can maintain their pace at the top end of the table while putting together a strong run in Europe, with his captain central to those ambitions.