“Prove the point” – Tuchel disagrees with Maresca over positional change as he sends warning to James | OneFootball

Thomas Tuchel stated he sees Reece James as a fullback rather than a midfielder, although warned he has to prove he’s fit enough to play there.

James was named in Tuchel’s first England squad for the upcoming World Cup qualifiers against Albania and Latvia, and could make his first appearance for the national side since 2023.

It’s been another injury disrupted campaign for the 25-year-old, although he has now made more appearances this season than he managed last campaign.

Tuchel disagrees with Maresca over James

James has made 13 appearances in all competitions, with ten of those in the Premier League and he’s found the back of the net on two occasions so far.

Chelsea have been very careful in the way they have managed James in order to try and minimise the risk of getting injured again.

Enzo Maresca has deployed James in midfield in recent weeks, and he impressed in the Conference League scoring a well taken goal in the first leg against Copenhagen.

After that game Maresca stated he’d seen James as a midfielder since day one, and Martin Keown believes he may have to reinvent himself.

James has been picked in Tuchel’s first England squad. (Photo by Patrik Lundin/Getty Images)

However, after picking his first England squad Tuchel, who has worked with James before insisted he saw him as a fullback.

“I know Reece,” he said in quotes picked up by The Evening Standard.

“In calling him up now, we made sure before we called him up that he was constantly available in training, that he was constantly available to be picked for matches – so that when he’s not picked for matches, it’s not because of injury, it’s just a choice of the club to maybe protect him a little bit. This was the basis for the nomination.

“I still feel he is a player for the full-back and wing-back positions, I think we have enough players in central midfield who are more specialists there.”

More Stories / Latest News

“Prove the point” – Tuchel disagrees with Maresca over positional change as he sends warning to James

15th Mar 2025, 05:00pm

€22m Chelsea target’s superb defensive stats show just why Blues want him

15th Mar 2025, 04:30pm

New Chelsea signing grabs first senior goal

15th Mar 2025, 04:02pm

Tuchel did send a warning to James when asked if he felt the Chelsea captain could still get up and down the flank.

“We need to see if he can do this. He needs to prove the point, to be honest, he needs to prove that he can do it.”