In brief
Enzo Maresca, the manager of Chelsea, had long dreamed of Reece James being a midfielder.
The Blues triumphed 2-1 in Copenhagen as a result of James’ outstanding midfield move.
James’ versatility and skill in midfield have since been praised when he scored a goal to cap off an outstanding display.
In recent years, Reece James’ position in football has been scrutinised for far longer than the Chelsea captain would have liked. Before injuries started to take their toll, he was heralded as the next great thing and solidified his position as one of the Premier League’s best right-backs in the 2021–2022 campaign.
The 25-year-old has had a long and difficult road to returning to his peak, and it hasn’t been without challenges. However, the England international has been able to make amends after avoiding setbacks thus far in 2025. However, few would have predicted that he would start in midfield against Copenhagen as the Blues defeated Copenhagen 2-1 on Thursday to begin their Europa Conference League playoff campaign.
This change is comparable to the one Trent Alexander-Arnold made with England under Gareth Southgate, albeit with far more success thus far. In contrast to that contentious experiment, James’ change has received a lot of praise, and his midweek appearance showed he might be onto something when boss Enzo Maresca disclosed he always saw his captain as a potential midfielder.
Maresca Revealed He Always Planned for James’ Midfield Transition
The Blues’ boss had this trick up his sleeve for quite a while
After the 2-1 victory on the road, Maresca informed reporters that he had always thought his loyal captain might switch from his comfortable position at right back to a more all-action midfield role. Watch the Italian’s interview below. “So, you can ask Reece; when I signed with Chelsea, probably the day after, I sent him a video about seeing him as a midfielder,” the Italian added.
“I have always thought of Reece as a midfielder, even though he was on vacation the first time I met him. I emailed him a video of him playing midfield.
Enzo Maresca has always seen Reece James as a midfielder, with the Chelsea captain set for new role further forward 📈💥
Last summer Maresca sent James videos, before the pair had even met, detailing plans to allow James to dictate games from midfield 🔥 pic.twitter.com/eruo7mHncM
— Hayters TV (@HaytersTV) March 6, 2025
“A long time ago, I mentioned Reece playing as a midfielder,” he continued. Although he is now playing there, he has already played this season as a full-back, centre-back, and central midfielder. Our first goal is to keep him healthy throughout the season.
Reece James’ Impressive Midfield Cameo
His manager’s long-term ambitions for the defender came to fruition in style
The problem with experiments is that until the preconceived notions are implemented, no one can really predict what will occur. However, after playing the entire Chelsea midweek trip to Copenhagen, the Blues supporters came to the unanimous conclusion that James deserved his midfield move and that, should he continue to perform well in all competitions, he might be able to move permanently into his new position.
The Englishman got 97 touches in 90 minutes, and almost none of them were wasted. He won three of his four duels, made one crucial pass, had a 94% passing success rate, and finished an unmatched performance with a goal straight from the top drawer. See his goal and other highlights below:
Reece James vs København (A)
pic.twitter.com/8ftsJvsuw9— ۟ (@simplyjb22) March 6, 2025
James never appeared afraid to pick up the ball from deep or further upfield and take it upon himself to keep his side ticking, and his restructuring has been praised by those who tuned into the action. “Reece James is just such a pure footballer,” one X user said. “Every action so clean and full of quality. Looks like he’s played midfield his whole career today.”
“Reece James in midfield might be the way forward,” a second user remarked, and a third said: “Is he playing more in midfield now? Beautiful resemblance to a player I truly like to watch.” A fourth stated elsewhere: “Considering his injury history, it makes logical to use Reece James as a midfielder. His technical skill fits a central role, and less forceful actions could lessen strain. It could prolong his career while maintaining his on-field skill if properly handled.
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