Chelsea’s head coach, Enzo Maresca, has given an update on the injury of the club’s captain, Reece James, ahead of the crucial clash against Liverpool.
Chelsea supporters have not had the luxury to watch Reece James since the beginning of the 2023/24 season under its former manager, Mauricio Pochettino. According to Maresca, the defender’s body can not play back-to-back games, which means his injury will have to be managed so that he does not have to return to players on the club’s injury list.
He said,
“Finally he is back. He worked with us in the international break. It’s good news for him. “It’s complicated when you get injury, injury, injury. You are always looking for a solution. The solution with Reece is what we are using with Romeo and Wes, using them just one game a week. Reece’s body [currently] cannot play twice a week. In this moment, it can be the solution [one game a week]. In the future? I don’t know. If we want to build his physical solution, it’s to go slowly, slowly to use once a week.”
He also gave an update on who gets to play in the first team when both Reece James and Malo Gusto are fit.
“First of all, [James] has to be fit. Then slowly, slowly we see. The most important thing for Reece is that he is finally fit. Fortunately, we have many versatile players.”
Chelsea face Liverpool on Sunday, October 20, 2024, in a series of four key fixtures agajnsat Newcastle United, Arsenal and Manchester United, the outcome of these games will most likely determine what the other teams will expect from Enzo Maresca.
However, Chelsea supporters will hope that Reece James gets a break from injury as the season progresses into its difficult period.